am very excited to be bringing you this edition
of the Ignatian, my first as editor. Publications can
be so deceptive. All too often the clean, shiny pages
and the engaging stories of our community can mask
the arduous slog of putting together a magazine such
as this. My sincere gratitude to former editor of the
Ignatian and former Director of Development Peter
Herington, who really did make the process look and
feel easy, and to whom I owe much. Peter’s influence
Lauren Sykes
over the College while he was here was far-reaching.
Though he has left the College and the Ignatian behind,
I hope that his influence over this publication is still easily recognised.
In recognition of Peter’s contribution to Riverview, James Rodgers has
penned this short biography:
Peter Herington began at Riverview as Director of Development in February
2008. His association with Riverview, however, stretches back to 1995 when
he and his wife, Hélène, sent first son, Renaud, to Riverview. Renaud was then
followed by Pascal, who graduated in 2003.
Peter was a member of the College Finance Committee from 2001 and played a
significant role in developing the economic and commercial case for Mirrabrook
and was subsequently the Riverview Commercial Project Director during
construction of Riverview’s early childhood centre. As Director of Development,
Peter has built understanding (through communications), community (through
the Alumni, Past Parents and current parents) and sustainability through
fundraising. In particular, the Bursary Program was dear to Peter’s heart and his
empathy with many of these families ensure that the program has flourished.
As a member of the College Executive, Peter brought calm, measured wisdom
to meetings and conversations.
We wish Peter and Hélène every happiness in their future endeavours.

The MAGIS
This issue is the last in our series on the windows installed into the Dalton
Memorial Chapel in 2009, and considers the magis—the more. A key tenet of
Jesuit Education and Ignatian thought, the magis suggests doing something
better; going that further mile; it is qualitative, not quantitative. In this
issue, we take a look at the magis in a number of contexts: Jesuit scholarship
and academia; personal service and dedication; serving others who are less
fortunate, both in a national and global context. They are stories of selfless
giving, but too, they’re the stories of Riverview.
I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this edition of the Ignatian.
Lauren Sykes, Editor

The text paper in this
magazine is chorine
free. The paper
manufacturer has
been independently
certified in
accordance with the
rules of the Forest
Stewardship Council

Earlier editions of the ‘Ignatian’ based on the themes portrayed in the Chapel windows

36–37 From the OIU President
38–39 Where are they now?
41
Past Parents
42–43 Reunions
44
Family Celebrations
45
Parents & Friends
47
Resquiescant in Pace

12–13

10–11

10

11

Farewell Tributes

Pastoral Care Restructure

Fr David Strong SJ & Les Kirkpatrick

22–25
Student Work

Question everything

Changes coming to Riverview in 2014

26–29
Performing Arts

Drama & Music highlights

36–Inside Back
Around the Community

A year of growth and achievement
IGNATIAN 1

The Magis
– challenge
and caution

I

gnatius is known for his rallying
cry and rule-of-thumb, the magis.
It is a Latin term meaning ‘the
more’. It suggests doing something
better, opting for the greater good,
making that choice which will be more
influential in the long term. But the
magis always comes with a caution.
It is never to be a recipe for burnout.
The magis is always qualitative,
not quantitative. So much did
Ignatius endorse this yardstick that
it introduces his Spiritual Exercises
where Ignatius offers the person who
is directing another in a retreat some
guidelines. Ignatius adopted an idiom
of his time, non multa, sed multum
from the humanist Quintilian: ‘don’t
do many things superficially, but fewer
things more deeply’. He wrote:
It is not many things that satisfy, but
rather doing fewer things more deeply.
For, what fills and satisfies the soul
consists, not in knowing much but
in our understanding the realities
profoundly and savouring them
interiorly.

I once heard a Jesuit educator say
that in our schools, ‘We are not
interested in covering the curriculum,
but uncovering it’. In the Ignatian
tradition, that was nicely put.
The magis acts as an incentive. It
was Somerset Maugham who wrote
wittily that ‘only a mediocre person is
always at his best’. To give anything
less than your best, is to sacrifice the
gift. But, at the same time, the magis is
never about frenetic and unreflective
activity. In his 2009 encyclical letter,
Love in Truth, Benedict XVI offered a
similar caution. He wrote;
The vocation to progress drives us to
‘do more, know more, and have more
in order to be more.’ But herein lies
the problem: what does it mean to ‘be
more’? Paul VI answers the question
by indicating the esential quality of

2 IGNATIAN

The ‘magis’ makes a bold statement in the grounds of Jesuit Sophia Fukuoka High School, Japan
‘authentic’ development: it must be
‘integral, that is, it has to promote the
good of every man and of the whole man’.

That is to say, an unreflective
drivenness to what is bigger, slicker
or more novel, to be a slave to the
technological imperative of ‘we can do
this, so let us do it’, or to be seduced
by acquisitiveness is a travesty of the
magis. Especially when it does not
promote the common good.
In his detailed tome of the
Constitutions, Ignatius has a large
section containing guidelines employed
for choosing works which Jesuits
might undertake, when there are many
possibilities to choose from. They are
really guidelines for discernment. The
leitmotif of the magis runs through
them all: Do whatever is ‘conducive
to the greater service of God and the
universal good’, or ‘for the greater glory
of God’, and ‘go where there is greater
need’ and where ‘the greater fruit is to
be reaped’, or ‘where the door is more
widely open’, where people evidence
‘greater devotion and desire’ and where
they are ‘more capable of making
progress’. Be bold enough ‘to go where
no one else will go’. Choose works that
‘continue longer and are permanently
profitable’. Finally and centrally,
understand that ‘the more universal the
good is, the more it is divine’.
In our seminal document on
The Characteristics of Jesuit Education,
penned some 30 years ago, our best
international educators wrote about
the magis applied to a student’s
formation:
‘More’ does not imply comparison

with others or measurement
of progress against an absolute
standard; rather it is the fullest
possible development of each person’s
individual capacities at each stage
of life, joined to the willingness to
continue this development throughout
life and the motivation to use those
developed gifts for others.

A more recent General Congregation
of the Jesuits, turned its attention to
this central notion of the magis. In a
section entitled Ever Searching for the
‘Magis’, they documented:
The magis is not simply one among
others in a list of Jesuit characteristics.
It permeates them all. The entire life
of Ignatius was a search for the magis,
the ever greater glory of God, the
ever fuller service of our neighbour,
the more universal good, the more
effective apostolic means. Mediocrity
has no place in Ignatius’ world view.
Jesuits are never content with the
status quo, the known, the tried, the
already existing. We are constantly
driven to discover, re-define, and reach
out for the magis. For us, frontiers and
boundaries are not obstacles or ends,
but new challenges to be faced, new
opportunities to be welcomed. Indeed,
ours is a holy boldness, a certain
apostolic aggressivity, typical of our
way of proceeding.

I have always been drawn to that
prayer, often attributed to St Ignatius,
the Prayer for Generosity. It also
seems to speak of the magis. The boys
embrace it because it captures their
youthful idealism, their desire to do
something heroic, to leave their stamp
on the world in a selfless way. But as
a novice I was curious that I could
never find that prayer in any collection

From the Rector
of Ignatius’ writings. An expected
Latin version was never to be seen.
So I wrote to Fr General’s Secretary
for Ignatian Spirituality in Rome. He
replied saying this also puzzled him.
Not only did he not believe Ignatius
penned it (he suggested it was by an
anonymous English Jesuit) but he
claimed it was very un-Ignatian!
More recently, a Jesuit author wellversed in Ignatian spirituality has
written that the prayer is ‘antithetical
to Ignatius’ understanding of God’s
ministry’. He argued that ‘to give
and not to count the cost, to fight
and not to heed the wounds, to toil
and not to seek for rest’ are ‘alien’
to Ignatius’ desire that we strive
to be contemplative in our action,
to be firstly reflective persons.
Such a prayer ignores prudent and
temperate restraint. ‘It sounds’, claims

the author, ‘like an exhortation to
unreflective and unrelenting action’.
An unsettling claim in the face of all
who have loved that prayer so much
and for so long.
Perhaps the writer is correct. But then
many rallying cries do not always
stand the test of critical textual
analysis. Well, it may not stand the
test of authenticity. It may miss
some of the subtleties of Ignatian
discernment and the authentic
magis. But it still captures the boys’
imaginations and generous spirits.
And I still like it.
It seems to me that the source of
the magis is God’s own bounty and
blessing. God’s largesse and loving
ways. The contemporary American
poet, Robinson Jeffers, entertains this
reflection and captures it in this poem
entitled The Excesses of God:

Is it not by his high
superfluousness we know
Our God? For to equal a need
Is natural, animal, mineral but to fling
Rainbows over the rain
And beauty above the moon,
and secret rainbows
On the domes of deep sea-shells,
And make the necessary
embrace of breeding
Beautiful also as fire,
Not even the weeds to
multiply without blossom
Nor the birds without music:
There is the great humaneness
at the heart of things,
The extravagant kindness, the fountain
Humanity can understand,
and would flow likewise
If power and desire were perch-mates.

And are we not also made in the image
and likeness of God? And therefore
called to be a people of the magis?
Fr Ross Jones SJ, Rector

IGNATIAN 3

Jesuit Scholarship: invoking the Magis
‘In all its endeavours, Jesuit education is distinguished by intellectual excellence and academic
rigour’. Hence, ‘ the schools set demanding standards for both students and faculty.’

T

hese sentiments impel
Jesuit schools to be
aspirational and pursue
excellence through the primacy
of scholarship subsumed in the
academic program. It is for this
reason that Saint Ignatius of
Loyola was encouraged to move
into the institution of education,
for he believed it held the greatest
potential to transform the individual
and the social milieu to improve
the human condition through
learning, particularly for those who
suffered the strongest adversity and
marginalisation.
At Riverview, this has been a feature
of the very proud and distinctive
history of the College. Boasting seven
Rhodes Scholars, numerous Supreme
Court Judges, Members of Parliament

Into the future

O

ver the next 12 months
there will be a renewal of
strategic planning. A process was
undertaken in 2006 to identify
the strategic futures that were
considered important, resulting in
Riverview 2025 – The Preferred
Futures. This was refined into
another entitled The First Five
Years (2007–2011), which
expired 18 months ago. It is
timely to revisit the core
principles that underpinned
the considerations at the
time with a view to making them
contemporary.
A Master Plan is being developed
that takes account of the
strategic futures the school
wishes to pursue—those implicit
to the academic, pastoral and
co-curricular program, that
ultimately need to be factored

4 IGNATIAN

(including the current Prime
Minister), professors in universities
throughout Australia and across
the world, doctors, lawyers, bishops,
priests and senior practitioners
in every profession and field of
commerce and banking, the College
is proud of its record of achievement
over the last 133 years. In this way, the
vision of Saint Ignatius has been made
manifest as boys become ‘men for
others’ while at the College, and
in the significant contributions that
they make through scholarship to
all walks of life beyond.
Learning is expressed in a variety
of ways and forms. Essentially, each
and every boy who enrols is asked to
apply himself fully to his spiritual,
academic, physical, cultural and
personal development. In scholarship,

into facilities provision over the
years ahead. Part of the master
planning process is to review the
development of existing facilities
for the way that they can and will
continue to meet the ongoing
needs of the College, particularly
in context of curriculum delivery
and resource deployment.

This is a preview of the new College
branding to be rolled out early 2014

The College is concurrently working
on two inter-related projects. The
first is the consolidation of the Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview brand,
which will standardise the school
crest, emblems and symbols that
are synonymous with Riverview’s
distinctive history. Over many
years, a variety of images involving

this is expressed through the
broadening of abilities and capacities,
re-inforcement of core concepts in
the learning program, intensive study
and a genuine regard for research.
Encapsulated in the concept of the
magis, it is about going deeper and
wider in a search for one’s personal
best, so that through the activation of
individual talents a culture of learning
and achievement becomes emblematic
of life at the College. In that way, a
layer of achievement is registered
across the range of faculties, from
Literature and Science to the Creative
and Performing Arts; all in support of
an educational program that strives
to give living witness to a scholastic
philosophy so deeply embedded in the
Jesuit tradition.
Paul A Hine, Principal

subtle variations to the school
crest have been used and Council
believes it timely to make the brand
consistent. This will be done with
great sensitivity and respect for
the past, so that the contemporary
presentation of the College is fresh
and clean but intimately connected
to the force of history that has
created and guided it. As part
of that, Council has authorised
the development of a new
website that will have a cleaner
operational use and one that
will incorporate the many
functionalities consistent with
the most recent technology. To
that end, a convenient user app
is being developed to facilitate
communication between the College
and the home. It is hoped that both
the consolidation of the new website
and the app will be active by the
beginning of Term 2 in 2014.
Paul A Hine, Principal

From the Principal
Farewell, Chair of Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview Council

F

r Steve Curtin SJ, the Jesuit Provincial, has informed the College that
Mr Paul Robertson AM has completed his appointment as Chair of the
Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview Council at the end of this year, after 12 years
of distinguished service. Mr John Wilcox, currently serving on College Council
will take his place. Riverview’s stature as of one of the most highly regarded
schools in the nation is in due proportion to Paul’s strong and principled
leadership of the strategic affairs of Council. The effectiveness of Paul’s work is
seen through burgeoning enrolments, sound financial stewardship, numerous
John Wilcox
Paul Robertson AM building programs, the expansion of the educational program – both
academic and co-curricular, as well as an intensification of one of the most
distinctive features of a Jesuit school – faith through service. The College would not be in the position that it is if it
were not for Paul’s outstanding leadership. It is appropriate to acknowledge Paul’s broader contribution to the Jesuit
Province across Australia, as well as his service to some of the most highly regarded health care institutions. In the
case of the latter, he is the Chairman of St Vincent’s Health Australia, which includes the iconic St Vincent’s and
Mater Hospitals. In the social change sector Paul chairs Social Ventures Australia.
Paul presided as Chair of his final meeting of Council on Wednesday 27 November, after which he attended a
dinner in his honour, as well as retiring member of Council Mr Michael Payten. Michael’s support for Council as
a member from the boarding community who has travelled over 600kms to each and every meeting for the last
six years, has become its own statement of commitment to Jesuit education and the affairs of Riverview. Deepest
thanks are extended to Paul and Michael for their exemplary service to the College community. Paul’s contribution
to the College was formally acknowledged at this year’s Speech Day, where he was awarded the Insignis – the
highest honour the College can bestow on one of its companions. As a footnote, the Robertson and Payten families
have very recently become in-laws as a result of the marriage of their children on 13 December – Tom Payten
(OR 2001) to Amy Robertson. Very best wishes are extended to both families on this most significant occasion.

The bells, the bells! Riverview receives a new carillon

E

arly in Term 1 of 2012, we introduced a daily 12.00pm Examen prayer
across all College campuses. At the time, Fr Ross Jones SJ requested that
some sort of bell be installed on-site, one which could be heard
throughout the main campus, but also at Regis, so as to alert all
to the start time of the Examen. Capital Works Manager Bob
Marsh was asked to investigate the fulfilment of this brief, and
investigations have led to Tower Clock Services Australia,
a company which has built several carillons in Australia.

Peter Barker

In a collaborative effort between Mr Marsh, Tower Clock Services
Australia, College Architect Peter Mayoh, Structural Engineer John
Williams from Mott MacDonald, and ACD Group, which constructed
some steel supporting structures, the College now has a set of 13
bells, made in Belgium and very kindly donated by outgoing Chair
of Council Paul Robertson and family.

Capital Works Manager Bob Marsh (second from left) overseeing
the installation of a new carillon at the College, generously donated
by outgoing Chair of College Council Paul Robertson and family

The larger bell of the set, measuring 653mm
in diameter, 521mm in height and 171kgs
in weight, swings when rung. The other
12 bells have a combined weight of 613kgs
and ring in a variety of tones. The bells are
controlled by an Apollo 2 bell controller,
which stores up to 100 tunes in its memory,
and GPS Syncronisation. The bells can be
set to work automatically at a given time or
tunes can be played on a keyboard.

IGNATIAN 5

Immersions and the Magis

I

mmersions are more than just a flying visit and certainly not ‘poverty tourism’. They are a genuine encounter with
those whose lives we share. Our students have the opportunity to walk beside others to gain a practical insight into their joys
and challenges, their hopes and desires. In extending the boys’ world it is an expression of the magis. A common response
of those who take part in immersions is that it has been a sort of wake up call, putting into perspective the opportunities
that they have and the need to give of themselves more fully to the life they have now. At the same time a seed is planted that
will likely bear fruit in their adult lives as ‘men for others’. Immersions always raise the magis question: what more might I do?
During the June / July holiday
break students and staff took part
in immersions to East Timor,
Cambodia, Borroloola and Tanzania.
In September, two groups travelled to
Micronesia and the Philippines.
The East Timor immersion involved
two students from each of the Jesuit
Schools and the partner schools across
Australia. They were able to see first
hand the beginnings of the new Jesuit
School in Kasait, near Dili, the Colégio
Santo Inácio de Loiola, which is being
supported by the Australian Province.
Two separate groups were immersed
in the Cambodian culture. One of the
groups travelled to Pailin, building on
the connection made by Patrick Rodgers
(OR2011) during his time of service in
2012, and both groups spent time with
Jesuits in Battambang and Siem Reap.
In Borroloola, we were able to
begin exploring ways of deepening
the relationship between our two
communities, particularly with the
Mabunji Board and the Waralungku
Arts Centre.
In Tanzania, a new friendship with the
Lahunga Parish that was established
last year continues to grow.

The 2013 Tanzania Immersion Group

TANZANIA
Seeing people, who despite having
nothing, tried their absolute best at
whatever they did and participated in
everything had a huge impact on my
core values. At the Youth Festival in
Lahunga Parish I was stunned to see
that every member of the parish was
involved, whether it be in supplying
food or the various dances displayed.
Everybody was active and engaged;
nobody was lazy or disconnected,
they were always trying. This
caused me to re-evaluate my own
participation in events and the
amount I try. This event had a major

Timor-Leste Immersion

6 IGNATIAN

impact in changing these values and
led me to attempt and participate in
all of the opportunities available to
me at Riverview.
Nick Bosworth
EAST TIMOR
The immersion was one of the most
amazing experiences in my entire life.
It completely changed my perspective
on many aspects of life. It was both
troubling but inspiring to see the
amount that the children went
through on a day to day basis just to
go to school and compare this to how
we see our schooling lives. The kids
in East Timor love to go to school and
would even like to on weekends. It
really made me rethink my attitude in
and around the schooling community.
Daniel Barnes
MICRONESIA
The richness of Micronesian culture
was obvious during our visits to
organisations and educational
facilities such as Island Foods and
Our Lady of Mercy High School,
where during a home stay we met
some incredible individual students
and families. This experience was a
particular highlight for myself and
the rest of the boys as we came to

The Magis
other. At first it was completely different
to what I experienced at home, but then
I became used to it. We had to learn
how to serve these people, and once we
joined them, we learned from them.

Cambodia Immersion Group

a realisation that whilst material
possessions supposedly signify
‘happiness’ the strong faith and social
loyalty the Micronesian people have
for one another is a great example
of the magis or ‘the more’. At Xavier
High School in Chuuk, we were
touched by the way in which we were
accepted like brothers into the local
community. We truly realised the
genuine nature of these incredible
people and how even though
circumstances can be challenging,
maintaining a relationship with God
and each other makes them the most
loving people you will ever meet.
Will Evans
CAMBODIA 1
I often thought we might be better
off donating our travel costs directly
to the charities we help, rather than
spending the money on immersions.
However, since going to Cambodia I
have learned that this experience can
be seen more as an investment in one’s
character rather than just a holiday.
Our experiences in the CVCD
village, on the outskirts of Phnom
Penh, where we stayed in for three
days is like nothing you could ever
experience at home. Here we taught
prepared English lessons at three
local schools. The willingness to learn
shown in these committed youngsters
opened our eyes immensely.
The reason I see immersions as an
investment is because now the majority
if not all of the group are considering
returning to the developing world
after school, or at least continuing to
sustain that relationship with the less
fortunate. Experiences like this help
us get to know ourselves through our
actions and really remind us about the
reality of the world.
Tim Allen

CAMBODIA 2
In June of this year, I was lucky
enough to be able to attend an
immersion in Cambodia. This
experience, as much as it is about
good deeds, is about exploring a
person’s own limits when faced
with adversity, and especially that
person’s own capacity for human
kindness and inherent goodness. This
experience itself has certainly helped
me to understand my own place in
the world and what I can do for the
greater global community. I suppose
I was always aware that I wanted to
be able to help people. I think that my
personal compass, untested as it has
been in our lush North Shore locale
was strengthened and reaffirmed in
the things that we did: I really do still
want to help people.
Patrick Cain
PHILIPPINES
‘Learning to Serve, Serving to Learn’
was what the immersion was all about.
From my personal view, I think the
second part of that mission statement is
the more important part. To serve these
people we had to learn their culture,
their way of life. How they reacted to
certain things, how they treated each

I think the best part of the immersion
was the house-building at Gawad
Kalinga on the edge of Manila.
Through all the hard labour we did,
we found an intimate connection
between the people who lived there,
especially the kids. They were always
smiling and laughing and that made
me feel that I was doing something
good for and with them.
I will never forget these experiences
and I wish I could do it all again.
The feelings I had are in some ways
indescribable. But I know I feel more
enlightened and awakened in life.
I will miss this experience, but will
carry the meaning.
Josh Fish
BORROLOOLA
My time in Borroloola showed me
another perspective on life through
the Aboriginal community. My faith
made me find God in the good things
and the bad things. The remoteness
and the facilities in the town, only
one main road, a few shops and a
swimming pool helped me to see
how lucky we are to go to such a
good school and be given so many
opportunities.
We as a group were welcomed by to
the community and had to be ready to
put our own comfort and egos aside.
Tom Morgan

Borroloola Immersion Group outside Waralungku Arts with Miriam and Marlene

IGNATIAN 7

Around the Province

The annual Indian Bazaar, a high point in the College calendar, raises funds for Jesuit Mission’s work in the developing world

Indian
Bazaar

T

he Community
Celebration that is the
Indian Bazaar has been
a tradition at Riverview for the last
64 years. It’s a real high point of the
College calendar, and this year’s event
was certainly no exception.

There were simply too many
highlights on the day to draw

Contributions can be made at:
www.jesuitmission.org.au
For more on the project see:
www.jceao.net/jesuit-education-timor-leste
Reprinted from
‘Companions’ magazine

Photographs: Peter Barker

On Saturday 14 September the
grounds of the College were
transformed into a scene of colour
and activity, with countless stalls
trading in a range of commodities
that raised significant funds in
support of orphanages and schools,
both in Hazaribag in India and in
Timor-Leste.

In the case of the latter, Riverview
is working with other Jesuit schools
from across Australia to build both a
primary and secondary school as well
as a teacher training college, to create a
new educational resource for a country
whose infrastructure was decimated by
years of occupation and persecution.

attention to any in particular, from
the strength of community to cameos
such as Fr Ross on the dunking
machine. All, of course, aimed to
support the cause of those who have
so little, so a heartfelt statement of
thanks is extended to Mark White
and Stuart Halsall who co-ordinated
events on the day, the staff, students
and parents who supported each and
every event, and the wider community
who, by their presence and generosity,
produced such a great result. It is
believed that combined efforts on the
day raised in excess of $200,000!
What a great statement of Ignatian
solidarity and support.

Fun and activities for the whole family included amusement rides, the Old Xaverians’ Car Raffle and countless stalls

8 IGNATIAN

The Magis

Saint Ignatius’ Day Mass (centre) and community service

‘God exists in the spaces between us’

T

he College community celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola on 31 July with a day of service.
Saint Ignatius Day is a particularly obvious occasion where students are called to place the needs of others above
their own. The morning mass was celebrated by Fr Steve Sinn SJ, who spoke of accompaniment and of the God
who ‘exists in the spaces between us’. This resonated with the students in particular as they embarked on various journeys
of service in the afternoon.

Sacred Heart

For many years, the Feast Day at Riverview was marked
by a half-holiday. We celebrated this special Riverview
Feast Day on Wednesday 5 June with a College Mass
that encouraged the whole College community to
consider the plight of the homeless who experience the

Greg Skeed

F

or 135 Years, the Sacred
Heart Feast Day has had special
meaning for Riverview. On the
Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1878,
Fr Joseph Dalton SJ, the first Rector
of Riverview, purchased some of the
property that Riverview now stands
on. The statue of the Sacred Heart
then stood, from 1888 until 1930, in
the Quadrangle and, since 1930, in
a commanding position in the Rose
Garden. For 125 years, the statue
has stood here as a symbol of open
Year 7 students brought forward blankets, scarves and warm clothing for donation
heartedness, large heartedness and
welcome. Much of what we do here
hardship of winter. The Mass was attended by a number
is grounded on this image of Christ, showing his loving
of guests from St Canice’s Parish in Kings Cross who
affection for others.
‘educated’ students about some of the daily realities
they confront. Prior to the Mass, Year 7 students
brought along blankets, jackets, scarves and other items
of warm clothing which were brought forward during
the Offertory Procession, and collected for distribution
to the homeless in and around Kings Cross.

IGNATIAN 9

Farewell
Fr David
Strong SJ

A

t the end of 2013, Fr David
Strong will complete his
21st and final year at Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview. The last
17 of those years he has been the
Senior School chaplain. He will be
moving to Arrupe House, Pymble, to
continue his research on the history
of the Society of Jesus in China, a
lifelong passion.
David’s commitment to the schools
ministry began as a Regent at Saint
Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point,
in 1966–67. After ordination he
resumed the schools ministry in 1973
at Saint Ignatius’ College in Adelaide
as Prefect of Studies at the Athelstone
campus. He moved from there to
become co-ordinator of Religious
Education and Vice-Principal at John
XXIII College in Perth (1977–80).
After a six year stint in the tertiary
sector as Vice-Rector at Saint Thomas
More College and Chaplain at the
University of Western Australia
(1981–86), he left Perth to become
Headmaster at the Xavier College
Preparatory School, Burke Hall, in
Melbourne, where he remained for
five years before being transferred
to Riverview in 1992. Apart from
a year in Canberra working at the
Australian Institute of Jesuit Studies
(1995), he has been at Riverview ever
since. In sum, he has given his life
to the ministry of education for 42
years. Alongside his work as teacher,
administrator, coach and priest, he
has continued to study, research and
write. He has published Jesuits in
Australia: An ethnographic history
of the Society of Jesus in Australia
(1996), The college by the harbour: the
history of St Aloysius’ College, Milsons
Point, New South Wales (1997) and
The Australian Dictionary of Jesuit
Biography, 1848-1998 (1999).

10 IGNATIAN

Fr David Strong SJ celebrating Mass at Montserrat, Spain
during the inaugural European Football Tour this year

I first lived with David for two years
when he was the Prefect of Studies at
Saint Ignatius’ College – Athelstone
and for the last two years we have
lived in community at Riverview.
I was young back in those days at
Athelstone and had no idea of the
demands that were placed on David
at that time. The school was in its
infancy and David had to navigate
a very difficult path between those
who wanted change and those who
wanted things to remain the same. I
want to honour the cost that David
did not count then, the cost he never
counted over the years. I saw then
and now how he reaches out to the
lost and wounded as a friend, priest
and confidant – they instinctively
know they will find in him kindness,
acceptance and understanding. They
know he is available for them. I want
to honour his generosity, the gift he
has made of his life to the ministry of

educating the boys entrusted to the
care of the Society by their parents.
David loves being a priest; he loves
the Society of Jesus. He is a fount
of knowledge and of stories of the
Society and has done us the service
of recording those memories. He will
not want to be remembered for his
time at Riverview, though he will be.
He will be happy to have been given
by his Lord a part, the unique part
that only he could and did fulfil, in a
great enterprise, the work of building
God’s kingdom among the boys, staff
and parents on that peninsula we now
call Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview.
This enterprise was a daily calling to
listen, firstly to his Lord; to celebrate the
sacraments; to be there, alongside the
boys, teachers and parents, as an alter
Christus. It called for all and he gave
his all. The culture, the ‘feel’ of the
school, is founded on such generosity,
availability and attentiveness.
Fr Steve Sinn SJ, November 2013

The Magis
Peter Barker

Farewell Les
Kirkpatrick

R

iverview icon Les Kirkpatrick,
fondly known as ‘The Kirk’ retired
at the end of this year, 44 years after
first coming to the College.
Farewelled by Old Boys at their
Annual Dinner, this is only a part of
the speech given in his honour.
Nicknames can either be a curse
or a blessing. But the man we
honour tonight has one of the most
affectionate names that the boys here
and the Old Boys use. We call him
‘The Kirk’. Two words—Kirk, another
name for a church, a building of
strength and solidarity and The Kirk—
the only one, the one and only. And
this is Les Kirkpatrick.
In 1969, when he was enticed
to Riverview from De La Salle
Bankstown, and when he was offered
a position as a teacher of Maths and
Science for Year 7, this was surely one
of the best appointments the school
has ever made.
Many of you, many of us, remember
Les as a coach on the rugby fields or
cricket pitch or on the water.
On his first retirement from coaching
the 1st XV, his 1984 side chaired him
in triumph from the field. In all, he
coached the 1st XV in 105 GPS games
and 133 other games—238 games as
coach, countless hours of training and
planning. Three GPS Premierships (at
a time when Riverview had won only
one other GPS Rugby Premiership).
Four times runner up.
This is to say nothing of his cricket
coaching, including a 2nd XI
Premiership, his Rowing coaching
and his seasons as coach of the Old
Ignatians where there were further
premierships.
Through all this, Les worked with
gentle persuasion, motivation and
huge doses of encouragement. He
related closely to his players and
brought out the best in each player
and in each team. They had spirit and
morale and loyalty that won them so
many close games—like the famous
8–6 win over Joeys at Hunters Hill in
1975 when Anthony Curtin scored

Les Kirkpatrick with his Year 10 Trigonometry Class, during Term 3 this year
the winning try from a lineout. Or
the gripping win in the last round to
win the 1980 Premiership when Tom
McKay slithered over the line for the
only score of the game.
The image of those years stays sharp:
the infamous pale jacket, the face
growing redder through the game, the
mountain of ash at his feet.
As Form Master, Les had one of the
more sensitive jobs in the school. He
had to be a disciplinarian of teenage
boys. But those boys in those years did
the right thing because they did it for
Kirk.
Les was fairness and justice
personified. He inspired confidence in
boys in their parents and in all of us.
Then as Housemaster, Les was a
charismatic figure who inspired
enviable loyalty among all the boys,
parents and tutors of Cheshire House.
They had someone who listened,
who never judged, who reached out
to everyone because every one was
important.
What won’t be forgotten is who
Les Kirkpatrick is: what will be
remembered is his integrity, his
sincerity, his humility, his modesty, his
courtesy, his humour, his stories, his
knowing each boy and each adult so
that he makes everyone feel important,
deserving and equal.
He’s always favoured teaching maths
to the lower classes, where he gave
struggling boys confidence and where
he reassured them that they could
persevere and achieve heights they’d

never thought possible. They sat at
his feet. They fell over each other
to get into his classes because he
was the one with the gentle word of
encouragement that lit the spark of
understanding and confidence.
And his Year 12 RE classes were
extraordinary. Boys actually lined up
to be in Les’s classes because there
they heard him speak unashamedly
and without sentimentality of his own
faith, his own love of the Mass, his
own prayers, his own service of others,
his own affection for Joy, his wife of so
many years.
At the end of this year, 44 years
after starting here, Les will leave the
classrooms, the playgrounds, the
corridors, the common room, the
fields, the Chapels, for the last time.
No one is irreplaceable but I know
he’ll leave a huge gap in our lives.
We’re going to miss him greatly from
Riverview. And, for the first time in 44
years, Riverview will be Les-less.
But, Les, your influence will live on
here in all of us, in all the thousands
of boys who’ve turned into young
men and then much older men who’ve
come to revere you and to aspire to the
highest standards that you set.
We Old Boys have been blessed to have
been here at Riverview with you, Les—
one of the greatest schoolmasters that
this great school has ever known. Les,
we honour you tonight as one of the
legends of Riverview.

James Rodgers,
Associate to the Rector and Principal

IGNATIAN 11

Cura personalis: updating the Pastoral Care system

T

he House System has become an integral component of the fabric of the College since its
inception in 1983. Cura personalis (care for the entire person) is a central tenet of Jesuit education
and the House System is the key construct for the provision of this care in the senior school.

There are 12 Houses in the College,
each House containing approximately
75 students from Years 9 to 12. Students
remain in the same House during
their entire time at the College and
because many of the College activities
are organised along House lines they
develop a special identity with that
House and the students within it.
From Years 9 to 12 students are under
the care of a Housemaster who comes
to develop a special relationship with
each boy and his family. With this
relationship develops mutual trust and
respect that will enable the student to
find a genuine companion in learning
and growing. The Housemaster is
responsible for the overall formation of
each student in the House.
Within the House, each boy belongs
to a Tutor Group. This smaller group
of about 15 students is seen as an
added support to the Housemaster
and the student. The Tutor, with the

12 IGNATIAN

Housemaster, actively participates
in the formation of each boy. This
smaller group enables the senior
students to meet informally with the
younger students and gives them the
opportunity to develop leadership skills.
In this, its 30th year, the College
has undertaken a process aimed to
solidify and crystallise the role and
purpose of the House System in the
College, based on a year long review
of our current structures and systems
of pastoral care in the Senior School.
The review process involved the
following steps:
• Feedback garnered from
student and parent exit surveys
and that of focus groups as part
of the learning and innovation
conversations last year.
• An investigation of Pastoral Care
systems and structures across a
range of secondary schools (Jesuit
and otherwise) in New South

Wales, ACT, Queensland, South
Australia and Victoria, in addition
to the United Kingdom, Ireland
and the United States of America.
• Ongoing, strategic conversations
around our current Pastoral Care
systems and structures with key
pastoral staff (Housemasters, Year
Co-ordinators and Counsellors)
and the College Executive.
• A series of open, staff forums
to discuss our current systems
and structures of Pastoral Care,
subsequent to a presentation to all
staff at the College to invite input
and feedback.
• Establishment of a Pastoral
Care Restructure committee to
formulate and submit a proposal
to the College Executive.
The New Pastoral Care system
coming to Riverview in 2014
The outcome of this exhaustive
process was a formal Pastoral Care

College News

Campion

Cheshire

Chisholm

Claver

Dalton

Gonzaga

Year Co-ordinator and
Housemaster roles were
dissolved.

restructure in the Senior
School, with the proposal to
move to a fully-fledged House
System as the primary model
of Pastoral Care.

• New structures of Pastoral
Care have been created,
including the establishment
of new Head of House roles,
Assistant Head of House roles
and House Mentor roles.

The rationale for this shift
is detailed below:
• In a large school such as
Riverview (which has grown
to 938 students from Year
• The House Centre will be
9–12), pastoral arrangements
decentralised and Houses
that cater for 75 students
will be placed at various
on a vertical basis, one that
locations (House Areas)
provides ongoing continuity
around the Senior School,
throughout the senior school,
where the office of the
Students in their House colours in 1983,
are believed to be superior to
respective Head of House
a dual system of management the year the House System was first introduced. 2013 marks
will be located.
th
the 30 anniversary of the House System at Riverview
that spans 240 students across
Under the new model, the
any given year level.
provision of student pastoral care
Head of House becomes
• The current systems and
in line with best practice in a 21st
the first point of call for students,
structures are convoluted and
century educational setting. This
parents and staff for any matter
ambiguous and preclude the
has strong support at an empirical
pertaining to the students’ education.
primary responsibility for a
and research level, which
The aforementioned positions have
student’s whole education from
fundamentally aims for the House
now been advertised and filled for
belonging at one point, which
to become a ‘community within a
commencement in 2014.
should be the House. The Year
community’, based on this concept
While the House System was at the
System has run concurrently with
of strong relationships and is
‘cutting edge’ of education 30 years
the House System since 1983
congruent with best practice
ago, it has been important to evaluate
and this has created difficulties
across a range of other schools.
the provision and exercise of cura
logistically, despite the best of
• To create an enhanced
personalis at the College.
intentions.
environment and context where
The above represents a significant
• To meet the needs of all students
students can optimise their
by providing a significantly
shift in the provision of pastoral
growth and ultimately fulfil the
improved level of holistic care,
care in the Senior School, which will
mission of the College.
acknowledging the symbiotic
provide a far greater level of cura
The outcomes of this shift
relationship that exists between
personalis, in relation to the students
were as follows:
student care and wellbeing and
at the College.
their learning and growth.
• The current Year CoAdam Lewis,
ordinator, Assistant
Director of Students
• To bring our practice around the

MacKillop

More

Owen

Ricci

Southwell

Xavier

Insignis recipient 2013
Citation for Daniel Gray
aint Ignatius was fond of echoing Christ’s hope
‘to cast fire on the earth’ and how he wished ‘it were
blazing already’. Such a desire, of course, starts with
‘a fire in the belly’. A passion. A refining fire to purify and
temper. A means to clear away the clutter that chokes or
impedes. A rallying beacon. A fire of the Spirit’s presence.
The Insignis Awardee today has such a fire.

S

Our Insignis Award is the highest honour that the College
can bestow upon a young man as he brings to a close his
days here. In sum, it recognises influence. It is awarded to a
student who is remarkable for breadth of involvement and
depth of reflection; one who has earned the esteem of both
his contemporaries and his teachers; one for whom a robust
spirituality is, and will be, at the core of his being.

Melba Studios

This year’s recipient is a fellow who is possessed of a deep
and questing intellect, who is blessed with imagination
and the creative spirit, who knows where his heart is, for
whom the conscience is no stranger, and who has regularly
committed his impressive gifts in the service of others.

Daniel Gray, Riverview Insignis recipient 2013

The twin poles of the mission statement for all Jesuit
enterprises are ‘faith and justice’. These are the hallmarks
of today’s Awardee which set him apart. He has attended
Kairos Retreats, both as a participant and a leader. During
Immersions, he developed strong relationships with the
people of the Borroloola and Bowraville communities,

Welcome,
leaders of
2013–14
ongratulations to
Jonathan Crosby (College
Captain), Gianni Taranto (Captain
of Day Boys) and Patrick Weston
(Captain of Boarders)—along
with the students elected as
House Captains and Vice House
Captains, Prefects and Proctors—
the College Leaders for 2013–14.
There is no doubt that the school
is in very good hands. Thankyou
to the College Captains, House
Captains, Prefects and Proctors
of 2013 for the very fine manner
in which they have conducted
their office and for the noticeable
contribution they have made to
both the cause and the effect of

Farewell, Class of 2013
The exhilaration and emotion
of graduation were clearly
apparent in the final week of Term
3 as our Year 12 students were

formally presented to the College
community at the Valete Assembly.
Old Ignatian and Rhodes Scholar,
Dr Imre Hunyor (OR97), delivered
the Occasional Address with great
conviction and effect, inspiring
the boys to live out the values of
their Ignatian education in the post
schooling years. Congratulations to
all of the students who took their

College News
walking in their shoes with sensitivity, and learning from
them. He has worked on behalf of the Cerebral Palsy
Alliance, Life for Koori Kids, Cana Café, Canice’s Kitchen,
the Lavender Bay Soup Kitchen and the Matthew Talbot
Hostel for the homeless.
To be drawn to those venues is very telling. The judgement
scene in Matthew’s Gospel reiterates again and again, When
I was in need, you cared for me’. If Ignatian spirituality
styles itself as ‘finding God in all things’, then this
young man, in the spirit of that Gospel passage,
readily finds God in the needy and those on the
margins and, at the same time, makes Christ
palpably present there.
The Jesuit school tradition has ever esteemed
eloquentia perfecta, ‘a flawless eloquence’. A
persuasiveness that seeks the truth and draws
people to it. And it holds that drama and the stage not
only entertain, but, more importantly, are each a medium for
engaging with values, and wrestling with the big question of life.
Today’s recipient has been active and at ease in each forum.
Mediocrity has no place in the Ignatian world-view. Our
Insignis recipient is a man of the magis. He will continue to
grow into a person of integrity and generous compassion,
living justly, building up his world – acutely aware of its
inequalities, but with a restless commitment to play his part
in redressing them. Observing what is, and asking what

place on the dais of graduation.
There were a number of additional
farewell gatherings during Term 3:
the boarding community gathered
in prayerful reflection in the
Dalton Chapel and looked back
on the highs and lows that formed
part of the residential experience at
Riverview, celebrating the strength
of a community that has developed
resilience, spirit, collegiality and
friendship.
The Blue and White Ball was an
evening of celebration and glamour
that saw the boys individually
recognised as a graduate and a
member of a very select group—
OR 2013.
Finally the Valete Mass and
Dinner celebrated the richness
of the faith experience the boys
have been exposed to over their
years at Riverview as well as the
strength of community that has
been part of it.

might be. He will be a man of the Spirit in service. He has
indicated that ‘this [school] community will forever leave a
deep imprint on my heart, mind and soul’. And he, in turn,
has left his mark upon the College.
As Vice Captain of the College this year, he has been the
conscience for the Student Leadership Group, displaying a
leadership style that is marked by courage and a necessary
selflessness. He has a great affection for the College, a deep
love of people, and a preferential love of the poor. He has
committed himself unreservedly to all dimensions
of his education – the academic and co-curricular,
the spiritual, and in service. His engagement in the
life of the College has been simply extensive. He
was Equal Dux of Year 7, Dux of Year 8, Dux of 9,
Dux of Year 10 and Proxime in Year 11. He is the
recipient of countless academic prizes in his six years
at the College. He has represented the College at the
highest levels in football and debating.
The College is pleased to present: the Stanley Ricketts
Memorial Prize for English, the Rector’s Prize for Essay,
the Patrick Ryan Prize for a Senior Student of Mandarin
Chinese, the Prize for Chinese Extension, the Riverview
Medal for Languages, the Father Charles McDonald Medal
for Senior Debate, the Prize for Outstanding Academic
Achievement and the Insignis Medal to Daniel John Gray.
Fr Ross Jones SJ

Archbishop’s
Award

A

ndrew
Bouffler
(Year 12 Southwell)
was the most worthy
recipient of the
Archbishop’s Award,
presented at St Mary’s
Cathedral.
Andrew has been an
outstanding student
Rachel Bouffler, His Eminence Cardinal
over his time at the
George Pell AC, Andrew Bouffler (Year 12)
College and the
citation attached to this award is below:

Andrew Bouffler is a Captain of Liturgy at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview.
His leadership has been marked by humility and service. Andrew has been
deeply involved in the co-curriculum, curriculum and spiritual life of the
College. He is a Eucharistic Minister and is heavily involved in theCollege’s
Social Justice advocacy group.
Andrew has taken prominent roles in his own parish, St Peter Chanel,
Hunters Hill and in December 2012, travelled to Cambodia to work in the
villages. Andrew has embraced all opportunities with passion and used his
talents and abilities for the service of others, in a faith that does justice.

IGNATIAN 15

Around the College

Third place in the 6th World
Chinese Bridge
Competition

F

rom 19 October through to 5
November, I was lucky enough to
be competing for Australia at the
6th World Chinese Bridge Competition in
Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
For those who are unaware of what
the competition entails, it is a popular
television show aired on CCTV4 in
China which showcases the world’s
best Chinese language students, and
puts them through a series of language
and cultural challenges until a winner
emerges with the most points. It’s
somewhat hard to relate to here in
Australia—a TV show displaying the
foreign world’s best English speakers
would be laughed at. In fact, just
meeting a foreigner who clearly isn’t a
very practiced English speaker but can
still construct a few vital sentences
really doesn’t shock us to such a huge
extent. It’s daily life.
In countries like China, however, being
able to speak their language makes any

At the Temple of Heaven with locals wearing the traditional dress of the Qing Dynasty

local gasp. Quite surprising considering
it’s the most spoken language in the
world. This is one of the many rewarding
experiences of learning Chinese.
The competition formed what I
can confidently say was one of the
best experiences of my life. The
extraordinary range of people you
meet is life changing. From 64 different
countries, I made life-long friends
with people my age from other parts
of Australia, the UK, France, Russia,
Serbia and Kazakhstan just to name a
few. I made friends who I will keep for
life. Though they may live in different
cities, the bonds we formed could
never be prevented by distance.
My language skills noticeably
improved, since being in a competition
which was only spoken in Chinese
forced your ear to become more refined
to the language. Each team had only two
competitors, and our Australian team
was nowhere near the best at Chinese.
We somehow gained a third place
award, however, probably
due to our Aussie confidence
and cultural sporting
prowess! Every competitor
was awarded a six month
scholarship to study Chinese
in Beijing, and as part of our
third place, all of our flights
and extra expenses are
accounted for as well.

I almost find it too good to be true
the amount of opportunities that are
being presented to myself and every
other student of Chinese. Attending
the competition was completely free,
and to be selected for the team all I
had to do was win one preliminary
competition in Sydney which involved
a prepared speech and a cultural
performance. With that one speech
and performance, I now have half of
my gap year paid for and a direct path
to Chinese fluency.
I have no-one to thank more than my
teacher, Mr Liu, who has constantly
encouraged me to continue my studies
and pushed me out of my comfort
zone into competitions such as this.
His daily phone calls to me to practise
my speech were not for nothing. His
unbeatable teaching style and positive
classroom environment eventually
develop into skills for life in his students.
If I could end with one thing, it
would be to encourage the younger
boys at Riverview and their parents
to very carefully consider Chinese.
The amount of students I see in my
grade who regret not choosing it is far
too many. You will meet new people,
expand your world and become gifted
with the skill of speaking the most
spoken language in the world.
Xavier Eales
(Year 10)

Xavier with Melbourne teammate Vidya before the Opening Ceremony

College News

Greg Skeed

The Cardinal’s Mass

Remembrance Day
The Cardinal engaged in discussion with boarders in
the College Quadrangle following Mass at Riverview

H

is Eminence, George Cardinal Pell, presided as
the chief celebrant at the boarding community
mass on Sunday 8 September. That the Cardinal
chose to carve time out of a busy schedule to join the
community is a statement of his commitment to Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview and to the institution of
Catholic education.

Lauren Sykes

Following mass, the Cardinal engaged in a number of
discussions with the boarders and staff, obviously enjoying
the conviviality of the evening. A small presentation was
made to the Cardinal to thank him for his gracious presence
on the night—a blue and white scarf with cerise tassels. This
is so that he can feel very comfortable at the annual GPS
Rugby contest between Riverview and Joeys, where by his
attire, he can publicly proclaim allegiances to both schools!

Fr Ross Jones SJ, Dr Allan Passmore, Mrs Nano Passmore,
Mrs Bobbie Brett, Mr Colin Brett and Dr Paul Hine, laying
wreaths following the Remembrance Day ceremony
at the College, which celebrated the lives of Private Noel
Brett (OR37), Gunner Tom Coughlan (OR30) and Gunner
Cecil Johnson (OR28), who died at Sandakan Prisoner
of War Camp, Borneo, during World War II.
The College was honoured to have with us, as our
distinguished guests, Noel Brett’s nephew, Mr Colin Brett
and his wife Mrs Bobbie Brett

Lazarus at our gate

C

harlie Vaux, Trey Petterson and
Scott Newey, pictured here with Bishop
Greg O’Kelly SJ, attended the launch of Lazarus
at our Gate: A critical moment in the fight against
poverty, this year’s Social Justice Sunday Statement.
The Statement is released annually and is the
work of the Australian Catholic Social Justice
Council, a body set up by the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference. As we move closer to the
target date set for achieving the 9 Millennium
Development Goals established in 2000, Lazarus
at our Gate urges Australians to confront the
challenge of world poverty.

Boys donned their bowties for Stella Fella Day, raising
awareness about issues faced by women who work in maledominated environments, and encouraging young men to be
good role models in their community. As well as holding an
afternoon tea for all female staff, the College’s student leaders
sold bow tie clips, with all proceeds going to Project Futures, a
Sydney-based organisation which promotes the prevention of
and education about human trafficking

Greg Skeed

Stella Fella Day

IGNATIAN 17

Around the College

Creating a
better View

W

alking together
has been a recurring
theme of the work of
the SIC Environment Committee
in the past six months as we seek to
become a sustainable school. One
of our partners, the Freshie drink
dispensing team, have worked closely
with us to encourage the boys to act
responsibly. Freshie helped us bring
Tim Silverwood to the College to
talk to the boys about Take 3 and the
plastic problems in our oceans. Lane
Cove Council bushland team has been
supporting our Therry Bushcare team,
creating a management plan for ongoing bush regeneration.
We have joined with sister schools
Abbotsleigh and Loreto Normanhurst
as they host environment days and
we have presented at environment

Tim Silverwood talked to students about new clean initiative Take3

conferences. Jack McDonagh,
Lachlan Ingham and David Leister
were panellists at the recent IEU
environment conference.
We are walking with the Project Green
team at St Aloysius’ as they joined
us at our joint committee meeting at
the Coal Loader Sustainability Centre
Waverton, in November this year. To
celebrate Water Week we held our third
annual Lane Cove River Catchment
Day where we walked with the local
catchment educators from Hunters
Hill, Lane Cove, Ryde, Willoughby,

Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and Field of Mars
Environmental Education centre.
Finally one of the most rewarding
projects this year has been our survey
seeking ideas and connections for the
Environment Committee that went to
the parent and Old Boy community. The
positive response was uplifting and will
see some great projects initiated next
year including our tree planting program
with some boarding parents. Together
we are creating a better View.
Sue Martin,
Environmental Education Officer

I was a stranger
and you
welcomed me

A

group of Riverview
students attracted national
attention in August when the AT
Thomas Advocacy Group (ATTAG),
chaired by Henry Gallagher
(pictured), penned a letter to
Riverview Old Boys and members of
the Liberal Party Tony Abbott and
Barnaby Joyce, along with other Jesuiteducated Members of Parliament, to
express disappointment over their
handling of asylum seekers. The letter
was signed by more than 450 students
and reminded the MPs of their Jesuit
education which taught them the core
values of respect and compassion. An
extract from the letter is as follows:

18 IGNATIAN

An Ignatian education has always
embraced and esteemed growth
in competence, conscience and
compassion. The mission of the
Jesuits and all their ministries
is ‘the service of faith and the
promotion of justice’. We share
that with a passion. The currently
proposed solutions to the so-called
‘refugee problem’ by both the
Labor Party and Liberal-National
Coalition are inhumane and
unjust . . . We feel compelled to
express our disappointment that,

as graduates of our Jesuit schools,
you would allow those principles,
cultivated in our common
tradition, to be betrayed. We look
for heroes among our alumni . . .
instead we see only allegiances to
parties that trade human lives for
political expediency, that choose
the lowest common denominator
to woo the populace, and that
speak of economic problems
rather than the dignity of the
human person, especially the
most vulnerable.

College News

Hot Potato Shop
R

iverview has been very lucky to have a number
of esteemed speakers from a mix of fields visit the
Hot Potato Shop in the past six months. Test cricketers
Jackson Bird (OR 2004) and Ed Cowan shared their
cricketing battle anecdotes, but also
some advice
on sacrifice,
commitment
and choice
in achieving
sporting goals;
Supreme Court
judge and
Brayden
Michael
author, the
Yoder
Pembroke
Honourable
Justice Michael Pembroke (OR72), shared recollections
of his school days, the impact a Jesuit education has
had on his life, and some insights into his latest book
Arthur Phillip—Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy;
and finally Brayden Yoder, ex-US Marine and short
filmmaker shared some stories with staff and students
about his tour of duty in Iraq as a supply convoy driver.

t was an enormously successful year for debating
at the College, with a number of successes in a variety of
competitions. The Year 10 Debating team, comprising Sam
Eaton, Alex McManis, Alex McGuire and Ben O’Dea, won
the CSDA regional finals, becoming the first Riverview
team since 2002 to do so, and then continued on to win
the state finals of the same competition. The Year 7, 8 and
10 teams won their grand finals in the SDN competition.
Finally, Riverview were named this year’s Australian Jesuit
Schools Debating champions, narrowly defeating Saint
Ignatius’ Adelaide in a tightly fought debate that ‘Wikileaks
is good for democracy’.

Making a difference

City2Surf
n 11 August the teams ‘Wolves for Westmead’
(Year 8 Boarding Division) and ‘Andy’s Heroes’ (Year
12) participated in the City2Surf race in memory of Andy
Jalloh and to raise funds for the Oncology Ward at Westmead
Children’s Hospital. Collectively raising more than $17,000
towards the purchase of a ‘Flow Cytometer’, the boys were
given a chance see how their fundraising had impacted the
lives of so many when they visited the Hospital in October.
The boys visited children in the oncology ward, and by chance
encountered a Riverview Old Boy and paediatric surgeon,
who gave a personal insight into his daily life at the hospital.
Though confronting at times, it was an amazing and truly
rewarding experience for all involved.

O

Sydney Tower Stair Challenge
Congratulations to Year 9 boys Jack Hartland, James
Hewat, Will Johnson and Varun George; Jeremy Bennett,
Owen Housemaster; and Philip Dean, Finance Manager,
who completed the 2013 Sydney Tower Stair Challenge
and raised funds for Giant Steps, an organisation that
provides support to families experiencing autism. Philip
has a very personal connection with the cause: his
daughter Shelby, who has autism, has attended Giant Steps
for the past six years. Phil raised in excess of $4,700
—an enormous effort!

T

he depth of our community was on display
in the Steve Waugh Room at the Sydney Cricket
Ground at this year’s inaugural Masterclass luncheon.
Aimed to profile the breadth and quality of the cocurricular program at the school, the event drew on
a range of current parents and past students to attest
to the importance of the wide range of experiences—
from sports such as rugby, soccer and cricket to the
craft of public oratory and debating, together with
music and art, that promote the broad and holistic
development of the young men entrusted to our
collective care. Those who attended were treated to
a truly memorable rendition of Puccini’s aria,
O Mio Babbino Caro (My Beloved Father) by Principal
Soprano of Opera Australia (and current parent)
Amelia Farrugia. Andrew O’Keefe (OR89) compered
a wonderful day that included a range of insights
from those who have had distinguished careers in
various fields: David Giffin (current parent, Rugby
Union), Michael Fordham (OR87, Debating) and Steve
Newnham (OR70), World Champion—Rowing).
Save the Date: the 2014 Masterclass lunch
will be held at the SCG on Friday 29 August.

to the knowledge of truth. Allow
deception in the world in order to
find the truth by determining what is
plausible and what is not.

A

number of Year 9
students participated
in an enrichment course
throughout Term 2 and 3, which led
to an in-depth exploration of ‘truth’.
The boys were introduced to several
key philosophers, and even had the
chance to communicate with Dr Sam
Baron from Sydney University.
What follows is a short sample
from each student.
Varun George
One theory, complex in appearance,
Was formed years ago and referred
to as coherence.
Exterior beliefs were key to this clue,
Where if a thought were upheld,
this would make it true.
Time after time theories have
been made,
However after a while truths begin
to fade,
And what was once set out to do
is soon non-existent,
One’s initial beliefs, ever so distant.

Robbie Zammit
Deceit and truth cannot exist
without the other
They are entwined just on par
One could pair the other as a brother
If they were not so dissimilar
The answer is there is none at all
Truth to prop you up
Deceit to make you fall
The truth is what you make it

Jonathon Crouch
Aristotle once said, ‘All men by nature
desire understanding’. I admire the
complexity and core value of this
statement. I also like to think that
finding the truth is the more
desirable part. I prefer to think
that finding new ways to reach
a destination makes the prize at
the end of the road all the more
sweet. The essence of truth, I
find, is in the journey . . .
Michael Crouch
A shockingly central aspect
of truth is the understanding
of deceit and the importance
of deception. A confronting
statement ‘without truth there
is no deception’. In what way is
it possible to comprehend such
a contradicting statement?
Notions of deception are vital

Tom Osborne
Many philosophers have sought the
truth, sometimes in vain. Humans
see and feel something everyday,
as Aristotle pointed out, bias and
prejudice are inevitable. No one
can have an objective view because
everyone experiences something and
is influenced by something. And so we
will never find an absolute truth.

Tom Murdoch
What is truth in all its complexity?
A theory? A fact of life? We will
always encounter in our lives, but it
is up to the individual to differentiate
fiction from fact. Truth can build
nations, and destroy governments;
truth can create unity while
segregating society. Truth shows
us who we are, what relationships
we can be in, and highlights our
limitations. Perhaps our soul is the

truth, and we are nothing but the
fictitious vessel in which it travels.
Truth is an inescapable reality of life.
Mark Rothery
Truths can sometimes seem to be
completely true, however, there is
often no way of proving anything,
famously illustrated in Descartes work,
summarised by the famous quote
‘Cogito, ergo sum’ – ‘I think, therefore
I am’. Some things can never be proved
so it would be best if we abandoned
this notion of absolute truth.
Oliver Clarke
Truth is what we know
Truth is lies
Truth is what we want
But why do we disguise?
His, hers and the truth
Three stories to be told
These various perspectives
Allow verity to unfold.
Truth is flexible
Truth can be bent
Truth is designed,
To meet our heart’s content
Teague Mirabelle
Humans need truth
Why? Our intelligence, our depth and
capacity for emotional meaning and
feelings, our need to connect – truth
being the basis for connection, that
which is self evident to one person
allows connection with others who
also feel the same sense of meaning in
the world, meaning to our existence
may that be scientific, factual
or spiritual i.e. inner peace so
different types of truth. Truth
allows us to make sense of
things, allows us to have faith
in all.

‘Question everything’
Detail of the Alex Seton scupture in the Library foyer

Christopher Chung
Truth is a key component to
our daily lives. We rely on
truth and deception, truth
helps us understand our world
further and gain a greater
understanding of ourselves. We
rely on truth throughout our
lives, truth is what tells us what
is real and what is not, it is a
key component of existence.

IGNATIAN 21

2013 Visual Arts HSC bodies of work: the Magis

I

n late July, the 2013 HSC Bodies of Work exhibition was held in the College’s Memorial Hall. This year’s artworks
evidenced student dedication to the achievement of excellence, and showed their unique ways of grasping the magis,
within the practice of artmaking. The technical and conceptual proficiency resulted from each artmaker’s desire to
extend their artistic capacities. The works represented the attainment of demanding aspirations, formed by an intricately
linked process of thinking and action. Each work’s unique physical qualities present audiences with an array of layered
and complex meanings, formed through continuous reflection and a desire to achieve the very best. They demonstrate
each student’s relationship with his area of investigation and confidence in working with concepts and materials. In this
way, the HSC bodies of work stood for intellectual and spiritual growth. The latter accomplished as a consequence of each
boy moving outside of his comfort zone, to embrace immersion in an artistic practice, over a prolonged period of time.
Student: Cormac Meehan
Teacher: Ms Julie Stevens
Title: Walking to Kinnegar;
Waiting for the Tempest
Media: Painting

Thomas’ small, expressive,
black and white ink
Cormac’s body of work
drawings of silhouetted
commemorates the settings of
figures comprise show
his idyllic childhood holidays,
the unexpected nature
spent in a small Irish fishing
of misadventure and
village, for which he has an
unruly human endeavour
enduring love. The single
to understand calamity.
panel of Walking to Kinnegar
Dominant frames, made of
abuts against the horizontal
rough, grey fence palings,
diptych of Waiting for the
Cormack Meehan: ‘Walking to Kinnegar’ / ‘Waiting for the Tempest’
present the scenarios
Tempest to form a dramatic
as boxed psychological
sweep of landscape images.
identities
as
media
royalty,
driven
phenomena, symbolising constraints
Azure, jewel-like seas and unsettled
to attain the most advantageous
and the challenges that must be
dark tides are placed against richly
outcomes for themselves and their
conquered, in order to overcome
coloured skies. Cormac’s innovative
constituents. Alexander’s work is
adversity. Jagged areas of white
use of layers of impressionist colour
clearly the result of a determination to repeatedly appear amongst the
present his childhood holiday location
develop his conceptual and technical
smudged layers of charcoal and
as a magnificent site. Such artistic
gifts, in order to present a firmly
graphite, suggesting the presence
proficiency shows his engagement
held belief. This work indicates that
of hope and inevitable triumph of
in artmaking to comprehend the
Alexander’s academic journey in
human optimism. Thomas’ work
significance of the magis – the more.
was driven by the desire to explore
artmaking,
has
been
underpinned
by
Student: Alexander Hutchinson
an aspect of psychology. His careful
a desire to grasp the meaning of the
Teacher: Ms Julie Stevens
investigation of his HSC body of work,
magis – the more.
Title: In the Interests of Interests
clearly shows a commitment
Media: Drawing
to attempting to grasp the
The connection between
significance of the magis –
politics, as portrayed in
the more.
the media, and the field of
Student: Henry Gallagher
economics, with its intrinsic
Teacher: Ms Mary Dorahy
focuses of want and selfTitle:
500K a body
interest, form the conceptual
Media:
Sculpture
basis of this work. Alexander’s
Henry’s sculptural
four pastel portraits present
assemblage 500k a body
world leaders as complex
examines the illegal
beings, highly proficient in
trafficking of human organs
managing a desire for power
in China. As a founding
alongside psychological
member of the Saint
frailties. The portraits
Alexander
Hutchinson:
‘In
the
Interest
of
Interests’
Ignatius’ College,
represent current political

A current issue within Australian
society, faced throughout the Western
world, is immigration. Luke Gummer
creates an artwork that delves into the
debate about asylum seekers. Through
his artwork, Luke endeavours to place
a human face on what has become
a depersonalised critique. Using a
variety of drawing and printmaking
techniques, Luke references his own
family archives, citing photographs
and immigration numbers,
intentionally choosing to work in
monotone, alluding to the black and
white treatment of this complex issue.
The arrangement of the larger works
evinces a sense of journeying into
unknown territory, suggesting God
alone knows all the answers, but that
we must seek to be Christ-like in our
attitude and approach to all.

Thomas O’Brien’s series of
drawings are a tribute to his
paternal grandfather, who he saw
as the embodiment of Ignatian
values, capturing pivotal stages in
grandfather’s life. These vignettes
allude to the physical and temporal
transition from boy to man, moving
from the traditional three quarter
portrait view to a more challenging
and self-aware frontal pose, also
implying his spiritual development.
The repetitive nature of the line work
in his drawings induced an almost
meditative state in Thomas, enabling
him to reflect and contemplate the
very nature of his work and the
meanings he wished to reveal.
Julie Stevens, Head of Visual Arts
and Mary Dorahy, Visual Arts Teacher

Photographs: Greg Skeed

AT Thomas Advocacy Group, Henry
has demonstrated a keen interest in
human rights. His artwork layers
meaning through the use of a variety
of media. Replica human organs sit
on top of imitation ice, with price
tags attached, placed inside a pod,
representing the world. The surface
of the pod is collaged with Chinese
Yuan and newspaper headlines raising
awareness of the issue. Studies by
human rights groups suggest more than
90% of harvested organs are sourced
from Chinese prisoners. Since the
Chinese government made the practice
illegal, the price for these organs has
risen by 40%. By creating organs using
plaster, ink and varnish, Henry captures
the grisly nature of this practice. The
price tags allude to the commodification
of humanity. Degrading the organs to
material objects, available for a price
in our consumer society, provokes
the audience to question; where is our
Christianity, our sense of humanity,
where is the magis?

Henry Gallagher: ‘500K a body’

Luke Gummer: ‘The untold story of Nonno’s arrival’

Thomas O’Brien: ‘Interludes of Memory – my Papa 1930–2011’

IGNATIAN 23

Industrial Technology
HSC major works

I

ndustrial
Technology
is designed to
develop knowledge
and understanding of
industry and its related
technologies with an
emphasis on design,
management and
production through
practical applications.
The class of 2013 at
Saint Ignatiusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; College,
Riverview produced
Major Works which are
of an extremely high
standard.

Matthew Brooks, Riverview NSW: Chess Table

A huge thank you must
go to all the members of
the TAS staff for their
combined efforts in working
with all the boys throughout
this challenging but
rewarding process.
Gerard Carson, Industrial
Technology Teacher
Jack Gaudion, Hillston NSW:Acoustic
Guitar and Stand

Lachlan Cahill, Hunters Hill NSW: Poker Table

Visual and Technical Excellence

T

he Regis Campus Art and Digital Media
Exhibition held during October profiled the
calibre of the work that is undertaken by the boys in
Years 5 and 6. Attention to design, coloration, detail
and form have enabled the boys to produce work of
commendable quality.
Congratulations are extended to the boys on their
endeavor and on the overall quality of their work and
sincere thanks are extended to Mr Ian McPherson and
the Art Department for efforts to highlight the different
elements of the exhibition. Simultaneously, the Regis
Media and Visual Effects work was on display in the tech
lab downstairs, featuring a live Green-Screen feed being
broadcast into the exhibition by the media crew.

24 IGNATIAN

Student Work

Thomas Aney, Nowra NSW: Tool Cabinet

Timothy Moore, Kurrajong Heights NSW: Sideboard

Hamish Mort, Mudgee NSW: Chest of Drawers

Mitchell Butler, Girilambone NSW: Dining Table and Bench Seats

Charles Lott, Griffith NSW: Dining Table

Photos: Peter Barker & Peter Herington

Maxwell Gooden, Lindfield NSW: Dressing Table

At the same time a video loop of the students Adobe
After Effects wizardry was on show with a whole
gambit of special effects, titles and of course digitally
remastered explosions.
Also active at the show were working examples of the
lunchtime Lego Inventions Group with electric guitars,
wall climbing, line following and obstacle manoeuvring
robots all made out of electronic Lego pieces.
A micro-computing display with a Raspberry Pi, a
$50 micro computer capable of running a variety
of small software and coding projects, in this case
the ever popular Minecraft. These micro-computers
are forming a core part of this termâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after school
Regis Tech Club where coding and programming are
established as an entry in the ever expanding computer
programming and design industry.

IGNATIAN 25

Around the College
Inner Mind
of a Teenager
Year 12 Play

A

‘

great play! Very touching
and thought-provoking.’
‘Inner Mind of a Teenager was
exceptional. Thank you for creating
a vehicle for dialogue between the
generations’ ‘Powerful, provocative,
searching. A great concept,
expertly carried off.’
Congratulations to the entire cast and
crew who were part of this amazing
production. Their skill, talent and
dedication were outstanding. Thank
you for making a difference to many.
Ms Belinda Clark,
Theatre and Productions Manager

The cast of ‘Inner Mind of a Teenager’

Salem
Year 10 Play

S

‘

he grips my throat with
her hands! She chokes me!”

19 people were executed for
witchcraft in Salem, a village
engulfed with fear, suspicion and
accusations. But what is the truth
behind the events in Salem?

The cast of the Year 10 Play ‘Salem’

Salem is a dramatic narrative, an imaginative work based
on the historical events of Salem in 1692.
The hysteria begins with a group of girls, but spread quickly
throughout the whole community. The town is lunged into
a paranoid nightmare. Who can be trusted? Explore the
dangers of going along with the crowd in this spine-chilling
rendition of events.
Left: The Proctor Family:
Sophia Barbour, Charles Vaux and Sarah Levins

Performing Arts
The Government
Inspector
Year 11 Play
ongratulations to the cast and
crew of the hilarious, fast paced
comedy, The Government Inspector.
Led by Director Paul Bevis and
Assistant Director Natalie Baines, this
group of Year 11 students brought to
life this witty play with energy, focus
and well-timed comedy. The audience
were treated to an amazing set
designed by Kirk Hume and original
and creative costumes by Myriam
Moysey and Kathleen Hunt. All left
with a smile on their faces having
laughed at this high paced comedy.
Thanks to all involved for making this
play such a success.

C

Ms Belinda Clark,
Theatre and Productions Manager

The hilarious, fast paced comedy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Government Inspectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was brought to
life by Year 11 students, together with an amazing set and original costumes

Regis Performing
Arts Festival

T

his Year saw the inaugural
Regis Campus Performing Arts
Festival. A packed Ramsay Hall
enjoyed performances from each
of the Homerooms in Years 5 and 6.
The festival was based on the hope of
giving all 200 boys the opportunity
to perform on the evening.
Each performance revolved around
the central theme of accepting
difference and included singing,
dancing and original
artwork of the class.
The boys did themselves proud, with
each performance delivered with
confidence, wit and enthusiasm.
The successful night was the result
of a lot of hard work from the boys,
teachers and parents. However,
particular thanks must go to Mr
Marty Collins, Ms Kate Moore,
Mr Chris Haynes, Mrs Angela
Newey, and Mr Ian McPherson

who worked with all of the
Homerooms in preparing the
performances. We would also like
to thank all the supporters who
attended the evening.
Congratulations to all on
establishing such a high standard
for future events.
Ed Codsi,
Director of Middle Schooling

IGNATIAN 27

Around the College

Music highlights

I

t has been a busy second half
of the year with the Chapel
Concert, HSC Music Concert,
HSC Composition recordings,
HSC Practicals, Eisteddfods, the
Regis Arts Festival, the Indian
Bazaar, Co-Curricular Assembly,
Grandparents’ Day Valete and Speech
Day assemblies, Speech and Drama
recitals, excursions to the Opera Tosca
and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,
as well as the large number of other
performances like luncheons, masses,
assemblies and the MasterClass CoCurricular fundraiser event at the
Sydney Cricket Ground.
Year 12 students are to be
congratulated on the high standard
of performance and compositions
this year. The HSC concert was
outstanding as were the performances
at the Trials and the HSC exams.

Tim Fisher is to be
commended for
his B+ in the 7th
Grade AMEB Flute
examination.
Zac Roddy was
awarded third
place at the Loreto
Kirribilli Battle
of the Voices on
Sunday 25 August
at their Annual
Spring Fair. Zac
won $450 worth of recording with
Motifex. This is
quite an achievement as there were
30 contestants at the event from a
large number of schools.
At the Sydney Eisteddfod, Regis
Percussion came first in their category
and the Senior Percussion obtained
third place.

HSC Music Concert

Congratulations to all the Riverview
Students who took part in the 2013
Australian Percussion Eisteddfod
recently. A large number of our
students performed in solo events.
Our College Drumline won third
place in the Open Drumline Test Piece
and first place in the Open Drumline
Free Choice. They were nominated as

13 0 th Riverview

GOLD CUP REGATTA

T

he 130th Riverview Gold Cup Regatta was held on Saturday 30 November involving 220 crews and over 1,200
athletes competing in 78 races. The Regatta has come along way from its beginning on 20 June 1885. The program
that day included two races for Rowing Clubs, races for the members of the Saint Ignatius’ Rowing Club and an
‘All Schools Race’ for a valuable silver trophy. Until the 1930s the pattern of the Regatta remained the same with limited
participation of other Schools, outside of All School Races that were held in the early years of the Regatta.
In addition to the 3rd IV (pictured), other winning
Riverview crews were the 4th IV (Charles Redden, Lachlan
Cooksey, Dominic Tynan, Joshua Fish, Cox: Max Gaynor)
2nd Year 10 VIII (Oliver Thorne, James Hewat, Daniel
Fish, Robbie Zammit, Brendan Smith, Scott Newey, Declan
Schillert, Fraser Brooks, Cox: Joseph D’Arcy) and the
Year 9 1st Quadruple Scull who won the Open Schoolboy
Quadruple Sculls (Angus Pugh, Charles Rorke, Samuel
Salter, Luke Rossi, Cox: Nicholas Stillone)

The success of the day is due to the input of a large band of
people who each year give their time to ensure the Regatta
remains a leading event on the NSW Rowing calendar.
This year Sydney University won the Gold Cup for the
sixth consecutive time while Mosman won the Women’s
Open Eight for the second time.
James Busteed, MIC Rowing

College News

The Chapel Concert features the Riverview Symphony Orchestra and the Ignatian Choir, with soloists from Senior Years

Our students were performing against
performers from Brisbane, Melbourne,
Canberra, Coffs Harbour and
Sydney. Congratulations to all these
students and to Mr Peter Neville, our
percussion ensemble co-ordinator,
and also to Mr Colin Rea who is our
second Percussion and Drum teacher.
Congratulations to the Saxophone

Quintet for their Diamond Award at
the Yamaha Eisteddfod. The diamond
award is rarely given out and this is
testimony to the ensembleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard
of excellence. Our String Ensemble
won this award last year.
Dev Gopalasamy,
Head of Performing Arts

he Provincial, Fr Steve Curtin SJ joined us to bless
and open the new Cova Cottage and the extension to
the newly renovated Boathouse.
On the wall of the Boathouse is a large bronze image
made by sculptor and former member of the Visual
Arts Department, Mr Michael Christie. It is a copy of a
very ancient stone carving found in Bantry Bay, Ireland,
which portrays the voyage of 6th century St Brendan
the Navigator and his monks.

The bronze portraying the voyage of 6th century
St Brendan and his monks to America and back

IGNATIAN 29

Around the College
AFL

2013

saw our first foray
into the newly created
Independent Schools Competition in
Years 5 and 6. In addition to this, we
fielded teams in the Sydney Junior
Club competition in U13s and U14s, two
teams in Under 16s, and a Senior team
in the Senior AFL Under 18 Division
1 competition. Throughout the season
there were many notable achievements,
events and players that deserve special
mention. They are as follows:
• A special training event at the SCG;
• The grand final victory of our U16s
Division 4 team against St Ives;
• A grand final appearance for our
U14s Division 3 team who lost
narrowly to Baulkham Hills;
• A final for our U16s Division 1
team who lost by two points to
Baulkham Hills for a place in the
grand final;
• Ali Crawshaw-Tomlins was
awarded third in the Association
Best and Fairest in U13s Division 2;

Cross
Country
& ‘The
Maillot
Jaune’

A

chievement comes in
all shapes and sizes, and
recognising this is a key component
of a Riverview education. The sport
of Cross Country does not just fit
with this theme, it shouts it from
the rooftops. Cross Country teams
train together, fast and slow, young
and old. Cross Country teams
support each other, the Opens turn
up early to cheer on the juniors
and intermediates; the juniors
stick around to cheer home the

30 IGNATIAN

AFL students gather together after training at the Sydney Cricket Ground

• Ethan Harvey was awarded third
in the Association Best and Fairest
in U16s Division 1;
• James McKenzie was awarded
fourth in the Association Keeley
Medal (Best and Fairest) in U18s
Division 1;
• James Loneragan and Luke
Robertson were selected in the
CIS U15s team who won the State
Carnival;
• James Loneragan was chosen in the
NSW All Schools side to contest the

National Championships in Darwin
in August;
• Ethan Harvey, James Cubis
and Andrew Sierakowski were
selected in the Under 16 NSW
side to contest the National
Championships;
• Alex Chisholm was selected to
umpire in the U16 Australian
Championships held in the July
School holidays and is the only
umpire from NSW.
Matthew Robertson, MIC AFL
and spent the next few minutes,
once he got his breath back,
enthusing about the drop in his
PB. It didn’t matter that almost a
hundred boys beat him home, not a
bit, and I love that.
In recognition of this trait we have
introduced the ‘Maillot Jaune’ into
the Cross Country setup.

intermediates and . . . well, you get
the picture. The slowest runner in
the field is celebrated across the line
just as enthusiastically as number
one—sometimes more. There is no
secret behind this demonstration of
sportsmanship and brotherhood; it
is inbuilt in a sport that is not about
competing with (or beating) each
other, it’s about competing with
yourself. I’ll give you an example.
We had one young runner trailing
home well down the pack but he
crossed the line with a broad grin

Those who stay up late each year to
follow ‘Le Tour’ will recognise the
term as the yellow jersey that the race
leader wears each year in France’s
famed cycling extravaganza. In that
context the fastest athlete in the
field dons the yellow.
For us, it is the athlete who has
accomplished the greatest personal
achievement that week—and the
difference between the two is what
Cross Country is all about.
Rory Hambly, MIC Cross Country

Winter Sport
Football

2013

was a very
successful
season for Football at
Riverview. With numbers
of participants increasing,
we fielded two more teams
this year than last. Five
teams completed the GPS
competition undefeated: the
1st XI, 5th XI, 7th XI, 15A and
14A; the College contributed
an unprecedented five
players to the combined CIS
team: Thomas Keenan, Neil
McCraith, Caleb Russell,
Edmond Scougall and
Daniel Stuart. Finally, the
1st XI completed the season
undefeated and were crowned
Premiers for the tenth time in
15 years of GPS football—an
outstanding achievement.
In addition to our success
in the GPS competition this
year, Football can boast of another
special achievement: Year 9 student
Christopher Chung was selected to
represent Hong Kong in the U16 Asia
Cup Football. Qualifiers, and is one
of a very small handful of Riverview
boys to represent a national football
team in an official FIFA / AFC
Tournament.
Special thanks to all who have assisted
in this year’s activities: the Director
of Co-Curriculum, Mr John Frare,
and Sportsmaster, Mr Andrew Szabo,
GPS Football Convenor, Mr Chris
Kitching, as well as the College’s
groundsmen and maintenance staff;
Combined Independent Schools Cup
Convenor, Mr Dominique Helene,
Mr Stephen Lawson of St Andrew’s
Cathedral School and GPS Coaches
and Masters-in-Charge.
Finally, it would be remiss not to
recognise the efforts of the teachers,
parents, players and other interested
parties who have worked to build
Football at Riverview to its current
level of recognition.

The Riverview Football squad sitting on the steps at Santa Maria de Montserrat

Inaugural European Football
Tour, April 2013
The Inaugural European Football
Tour, undertaken in April 2013,
provided students with an intensive
insight into football undertaken on
a global scale and a broad view of
cultural differences and insight into
Ignatian history and an opportunity
to interact with individuals from a
range of backgrounds. While football
was the focus, the tour provided
students with a broad-ranging
international experience.
The group participated in attending
La Liga (Spanish first division) and
EPL matches; training at senior
club training facilities conducted by
academy staff from leading Spanish
and English clubs; matches with
club and school teams in a variety of
conditions; stadium, museum and
merchandise store tours of major
Spanish and English Football clubs;
sightseeing in significant world cities,
including guided tours. The tours
pointed out features of significant
interest—former bull fighting

venues, the neighbourhoods in which
Northern Ireland’s troubles were
located, and visiting other cultural
and architectural highlights, such as
the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
We also visited Manresa and
Montserrat, including a visit to the
Black Madonna, noted in the story of
Saint Ignatius.
The tour party also had the
opportunity to make personal links
with the community at the Jesuit
Clongowes Wood College and Bishop
Heber School and Wimbledon
College (an additional contact with a
Spanish school was planned but not
able to be carried through). There
was also contact with a primary
school in Belfast, where the Riverview
boys were able to share their love of
football and some basic drills with the
younger children at the school.
The boys accompanying the tour
behaved impeccably and staff received
several complimentary comments
from people who had interactions
with, or observed, the squad.
Peter Steffan, MIC Football

IGNATIAN 31

Around the College
Futsal

T

he second season of
Futsal proved to be another
success. The Senior teams played
in the Northern Beaches Futsal
Association competition. The
Views Blues finished first in the
competition, but the Riverview
Blues team won the title with
a comprehensive 4–1 victory
in the grand final. During the
competition, the teams played
against each other in the Gartlan
Centre on two Friday afternoons
in front of many fans including
parents, students and staff. A big
thank you to Mr Hogan and Fr Ross
for their support and presence on
these occasions, as both matches
turned out to be an outstanding
exhibition of Futsal.
Our Under 16s teams, the Riverview
Boarders and Riverview Blue,
competed in a competition at Five
Dock Leisure Centre, with Riverview

Zach Roddy, Andrew Kernahan and Ned Lindsay

Blue playing the in Division 1
competition. Though the Boarders
team started slowly, with many of
the boys in the team having never
played Futsal before, the team
developed a wonderful style of play
that was highly entertaining, and
made the semi-finals.
Our Under 15s team was a
committed bunch, and the boys
were pipped at the post in the
grand final, losing 0–1. Similarly,
our youngest team, the Under 14

Riverview Juniors team, lost the grand
final 3–4, but is to be congratulated
on being undefeated all season.
I would like to congratulate all our
boys on the way they represented
the sport. Moreover, I would like to
thank the coaching staff who gave
the players the skills and confidence
to compete successfully in all
competitions: Jimmy Magill, Rob
Stuart and Bruno Jasmeick—a big
thank you.
Sab Trovato, Futsal Co-ordinator

Rugby

T

he 2013 Season was the first
time the GPS Rugby season
was played over two rounds. This
presented the players and coaches
with a unique experience of home and
away fixtures against the other GPS
schools. After a thorough pre-season,
the majority of teams were prepared
for the first round against Newington.
Boys in every team and every age
group showed great skill development
and developed their game
understanding throughout the season.
Particular focus was paid this year to
developing teams tactically, to play
smarter rugby, recognise strengths
and play to them and use the ball
effectively when in possession. The
majority of teams adopted this
College-wide approach to play a brand
of rugby that focuses on the positive

32 IGNATIAN

principles of play and sets a platform
for strong attacking and defensive
patterns. With close to 900 boys
playing rugby at the College the depth
and quality of rugby throughout the
season was of the highest standard
and many thanks to the dedicated and
driven coaching staff who ensured

that each boy received a rugby
education. A big thank you also to the
support of the College Sportsmaster,
Mr Andrew Szabo, and Director of
Co-Curriculum, Mr John Frare, in
their unwavering support of Rugby at
the College.
Travis Partridge, MIC Rugby

Winter Sport
Snowsports

W

inter 2013 will be
remembered for how often,
and how quickly, the snow came and
went. There can be quite an element
of luck when skiing in Australia, and
all things considered, we
were really quite lucky.

The College Snowsports Camp in
Thredbo in late June was a massive
success, involving 57 students from
Years 5–11, six members of staff and
some quality skiing. Two weeks later,
32 Riverview boys competed in the
Sydney Interschools Championships
to great success: all up we recorded 16
top 10 finishes and
18 boys qualified
for the State
Championships.
Held in the
third week of
August at Perisher
Valley, the NSW
Interschools
competition
was held in some
challenging
blizzard
conditions,
with 50
competitors
on average in
each event.

Tom van Dongen

Volleyball

T

he 2013 Volleyball season
began with the addition of a
new Under 16s team. Over the
past year Volleyball has been
growing, with more than 60
students trying out for a spot in
the limited three teams.
This year, our players showed lots
of potential and new found talent in
the game. Expectations were quite
high in the beginning, having a very
athletic team, though as the season
progressed, the players realised
that athleticism is just a very small
aspect in a game of volleyball.

All up, we recorded ten Top 10
finishes, with eight of these being
in the top five.
There are a number of people to
thank: Mr John Frare for his unfailing
support, and for his drive to see that
Snowsports not only continues at
the College, but ultimately moves
on to bigger and better things;
Mr Adam Lewis who was
instrumental in ensuring that our
most successful and talented skiers
and boarders were given every
opportunity to compete at the highest
level; Anthony Cook, Aaron Hooper,
Simon Causley, Peter Colledge,
and Geoff Tesoriero, who made the
Snowsports Camp such a success
with non-stop smiles, around the
clock care, and infectious humour;
And then there is Mrs Leisa Griffin.
The mother of Year 10 student
and skier Luke, and ultimately the
person most responsible for ensuring
that in 2013 the College had both
a competitive, and successful,
Snowsports team.There is not the
slightest doubt that without Leisa’s
efforts, the College would not have
been represented as a school team
in Interschools competition
this season.
Chris Baxter,
MIC Snowsports

The year culminated in our
inclusion at the NSW Schools
Cup in October. A team of six,
comprising Kris Silitonga, Derrick
Byimira, Andrew Wewege, Jamie
Szabo, Charlie Vaux and James
Hayward, played five tiring games
of Volleyball against some of the
state’s best teams and placed
fourth, a commendable effort
especially for those who hadn’t
played for over six weeks.
We are hopeful to see more fresh
faces with the inclusion of the U14s,
U15s and an Open 3rds team in the
GPS competition in 2014. In 2013,
our captain, Kristopher Silitonga,
has lead the team by example with
his dedication to training and

improving his skills, along with
helping others learn the basics and
refining their strengths.
The expansion of the sport can only
happen when the players, coaches
and parents have worked well as a
team, so thank you to all involved.
In particular to Sarah Harrisson,
Jason Chow, Oli Konakoff and Oscar
Konakoff for their excellent guidance
of the players throughout the year. I
would also like to personally thank
the parents who have come to
support the players this year; now you
can add Volleyball to your repertoire
of sport rules and regulations!
Maryanne O’Donoghue,
MIC Volleyball

IGNATIAN 33

Around the College
Cycling

T

he Riverview Cycling team
has had another great year, with
the number of boys choosing the sport
growing each year. In Term 4, 2013 we
had 35 boys competing each Saturday
against Waverley College, Knox
Grammar School, Barker College and
now The King’s School who have just
joined our competition. Hopefully
this is just the start of many more
schools joining us to eventually make
a full-on GPS cycling competition.
This fourth term has also been very
eventful because we have moved
into our new shed. Our new home
is absolutely fantastic. Each bike
has a separate hook, there is room
for 50 bikes and we have new tools
and workbenches, lights and power.
Thanks must go to Bob Marsh for
helping us acquire such a valuable
cycling resource.

Fencing

2013

has seen an
improvement in the
calibre of fencing at Saint Ignatius’
College, Riverview. Throughout the
year many students participated
in numerous individual and team
events. The first major competition
for the Junior fencers was the NSW
Roberta Nutt Shield, at which
Joshua Bennett won a silver medal.

I would like to thank the maintenance
team for all their hard work, help
and advice, and for all their patience
in helping me set up our new home.
Robert Luttrell in particular was
instrumental in setting up the shed.
Without Rob’s ideas and knowledge
we would not have this great facility,
a great asset to the College that will
last for many, many years. Thanks
also to Michael Grant for his fantastic

The first competition for Senior
fencers was the A J Ray Shield event,
at which the Senior team won bronze.
There were a number of other
exceptional results throughout the
season. Joshua McKenzie finished in
the top 16 of 60 fencers at the NSW
Senior Schools Championships.
Matthew Goodson won bronze in
the U13 Division comprising of 54
fencers. At the NSW Schools Team
Championships, our U15 Division

work with the new sign depicting
our cycling motto in both Latin and
Spanish that reads, “let us rejoice and
let us be daring”. The wisdom behind
this phrase comes from many hours of
work from Mr Cornelius O’Donovan.
It is people such as these, in addition
to our coaches and boys, who make
our sport such an enjoyable and
successful one.
Jeremy Bennett MIC Cycling

team of Christian Damiano, Oscar
Eggleton and Marcus Pannozzo
finished sixth; and the U13 Division
‘A’ team of Matthew Goodson,
Joshua Bennett and Sacha Sapsford
won a silver medal; and while they
didn’t place, the U/13 Division
‘B’ team of Michael Byrne, Dean
Fisher, Niroshen Abbey and Charles
Tennyson put in a commendable
effort.
The annual Saint Ignatius’ College,
Riverview Championship in August
was a huge success, with the overall
results as follows, in order of
place: Seniors—Joshua McKenzie,
Matthew Goodson, Christian
Damiano; U15—Matthew
Goodson, Christian Damiano,
Oscar Eggleton; U13—Matthew
Goodson; Joshua Bennett; Sacha
Sapsford.
I would like to congratulate
all fencers for their effort and
determination throughout the year
Andrew Szandurski, MIC Fencing

34 IGNATIAN

Cross Seasonal Sport
Taekwondo /
Martial Arts

T

he history of Tae Kwon
Do highlights that this
form of martial arts was devised
through a collaborative effort
of practitioners in Korea. Today,
collaboration remains a salient feature
of the sport—it is one of a handful at
Riverview that brings together boys
from all years in friendly competition.
The chance to train and spar with
students from Barker College, The
Shore School and Sydney Grammar
School has resulted in friendships
across traditional boundaries.
Though we finished in fourth place
at the 21st All Schools’ Tae Kwon Do
Tournament this year, we were happy
to see our training partners from
Sydney Grammar take first place.
At the tournament Michael Rodgers
and Carlos Toda were gilded with
gold medals, Nicholas Bosworth,

Nicholas Lucchese, Timothy Egger
and Jesse Smith received silver,
and Simon Lee, Euan Smith and
Jonathon Barnes earned bronze.
This was an impressive effort given
the heat and the quality of their
respective opponents.
Another great indicator of success
this season has been the grading
of four of our senior boys as black
belts: Matthew Stow, Michael
Rodgers, Nicholas Bosworth and
Thomas Lucchese all achieved this
distinction at the end of first term.

The boys have benefited from the
perceptive tutelage of Mr Greg
Wylie who ensures that there
is always variety and a gentle
competitive aspect in our training
sessions. Lincoln Mark complements
this with challenging training
sessions during the week. Thanks
also to the parents who support the
team throughout the year and to
Messrs Szabo and Frare for their
ongoing support for the squad.
Mark Egger,
MIC Taekwondo / Martial Arts

Tennis

A

highlight of this year’s
Tennis season was the
opportunity for our boys to
participate in an Asia-Pacific Tennis
League and Clinic. About 12 boys,
mostly Year 10 players, participated in
the event at Sydney University, which
was primarily organised by past
student and Vice President of Sydney
University Tennis Club, Michael
Power (OR2008).
Firstly our students toured the
sporting facilities at Sydney
University, and then were given a
presentation on the University’s Elite
Athlete Program. Following the talk
the boys played an exhibition match
against The King’s School, and later
watched the first two matches in the
Asia-Pacific Tennis League. Three
Riverview Old Boys from the Class
of 2008 were participating in the

Tennis students participated in an Asia-Pacific Tennis League and Clinic

League: David Barclay for Macquarie
University Warriors; Michael Power
for Sydney University Lions; and Scott
Brown for the defending Premiers,
Next Gen Rebels.
We have some players of great
potential in our ranks. Hopefully, our
day at Sydney University will inspire
many of our boys to work harder

on the tennis courts, but also more
consistently in the classroom. The
life of an elite athlete at University
or anywhere else is never easy and
it involves many sacrifices. Perhaps,
some of our players will go on to take
up this challenge.
Richard Hart,
MIC Tennis

IGNATIAN 35

Around the Community

A year of
change,
growth and
achievement

E

very morning the Just
Leadership program of Jesuit
Social Services sends out
the saying of the day. One of the
best of this year, and given our
privileged position as leaders – one
that applies to all of us, students,
parents, teachers, Old Boys is this
one – written from the perspective of
those we lead (our children, younger
students, young Old Boys, our
workmates and the community
in general).
A Word from the Led

And in the end we follow them –
Not because we are paid,
Not because we might see
some advantage,
Not because of the things
they have accomplished,
Not even because of the dreams
they dream
But simply because of who they are:
The man, the woman,
the leader, the boss
Standing up there when the wave
hits the rock
Passing out faith and confidence
like life jackets
Knowing the currents,
holding their doubts,
Imagining the delights and terrors
of every landfall:
Captain, pirate and parent by turns,
The bearer of our countless hopes
and expectations.
We give them our trust.
We give them our effort.
What we ask in return is that
they stay true.
William Ayot

It’s improbable, but the first thing a
new member of the Old Ignatians’
Union should do is to become

36 IGNATIAN

OIU Indigenous Mentor Program Camp, November 2013

President. From that ‘lofty’ height the
young person would see first hand the
embodiment of all the expectations
and obligations that befall a former
student of Saint Ignatius’ College,
Riverview. They would see all the
work their brother members and
OIU Community sisters put into
making their local and international
communities better places. And I
must say what a humbling experience
it has been over these last 12 months
to see this work. It would be a great
thing for the young person to come
to realise that all the Ignatian Service
and personal effort they put into their
own education and co-curricular
activity over the years is just a
preparation for how those things will
be used upon leaving school.
2013 was a year of change, growth
and great achievement in the OIU.
The goal of creating a closer OIU
Community made up of old boys,
parents, past parents, teachers, Jesuits
and other Jesuit Missions with a special
focus on youth has been continued.
Our saddest moment came when we
lost one of our Committee Members,
Peter Costa (OR84) after a brave fight
with cancer. We also lost a long-time
champion Phil De Baun (OR55), at
whose remarkable funeral and wake.

14 present and past OIU Presidents
attended to pay their last respects to
a great supporter and tireless worker
for the Union. At the end of the year
we also lost Life Vice President Darcy
Hall (OR59), tireless worker for OIU
and Indian Bazaar.
January began as it always does
with the 9th annual OIU Cana
Communities Holiday Camp. 30
homeless and marginalised people
and their volunteers were given the
free run of the facilities and are
looked after by Year 11 students from
Riverview and Loreto Normanhurst.
A fun time had by all.
March saw the running of the
inaugural Riverview Junior Regatta and
the OIU, with support from the 1st XI
Cricket team and parents raised funds
for Life for Koori Kids at the BBQ.
Four Indigenous Mentor Program
BBQs were held. The program goes
from strength to strength, with
support from the school, and 34
boys being mentored by the OIU
community (Old Boys, parents and
friends) throughout their school life
to provide support for them in the
transition from school to adult life.
The program culminated in the camp,
which was, from all reports from
leader John Allen (OR81), ‘brilliant’.

From the OIU President
The OIU joined forces with Jesuit
Social Services to present the Just
Leadership series of speeches and
networking breakfasts. With Michael
Traill and Danny Gilbert talking about
the common theme of how to live a
just life as a leader and the benefits
of bringing social justice activities
into your working life we have started
what is expected to be a well-attended
activity not just for Old Boys but for
all Ignatian-based education schools,
Jesuit Parishes and friends with a
special emphasis on senior school and
university students. An exciting series
is planned for next year.
The Careers Expo and lecture series
was very well attended. Old Boy and
parent experts in their fields come to
lecture Year 10-12 students on their
topic to provide an insight into that
career. The lecture series goes in a
three year cycle which commences
again next year.
Five BBQs were run at home games
this year. With the support of
members as well as fathers (and a few
mothers!) valuable funds we raised for
the Bursary scheme. For the first time
the OIU has guaranteed a minimum
annual payment of $20,000 to the
Bursaries and the BBQs go a long
way to underwrite that significant
commitment.
Throughout the year two members
run the majority of roster and
management commitments for the
Cana Communities homeless
accommodation – Theresa
House. Michael Woodham
(Honorary Old Boy) and Dan
Moran (OR86) work tirelessly
to provide the opportunity
for students, teachers,
support staff and parents
of the OIU Community for
Ignatian Service.

Kirkpatrick who hung up his boots
and duster this year after more than 40
years service.
During the year the OIU facilitated
numerous Cana Farm days for boys to
complete Ignatian Service. The Farm
is a brilliant initiative which brings
together homeless and marginalised
with the school communities and
other helpers for their mutual
benefits. This video shows what can
be achieved. http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=-OYsO2Pk9O8
The Melbourne Cup lunch and Calcutta
was a great way to raise funds as well
as to have a good time. The lunch was
well-supported by the College and
parents. Thankyou to all involved.
Sponsorships
The OIU sponsored young Old Boys
to assist with Year 11 immersions;
provided valuable seed-funding to
The Cardoner Project, a facility and
formation program for young Old
Boys; Cana Communities was assisted
with payment of rent; Manjeri was
commenced by young Old Boys to
help communities in Uganda through
the establishment of a school and
chicken farm; we also sponsored the
Old Ignatians Sports Association
(OIUSA).
In Brief
The OIU also assisted in finding
employment for boys in the SEIP
program; raised funds for the Black
Dog Institute; ran a successful

Golf Day; assisted with reunions in
Brisbane and Perth, supported Old
Boys in gaol; launched the new OIU
Community website; and countless
small but important pieces of work
which go unsung but help to make the
fabric of the school what it is.
2014 will continue the themes of OIU
community development and youth
accompaniment. The latter is of prime
importance. We take our lead from the
school and it in turn from the Jesuits.
In closing I would like to pay tribute
to the tireless work of the OIU
Executive and General Committees.
Their help, support and advice
enabled the OIU to achieve much
in its role and association with the
school and its community.
We welcome three new members to
the status of Life Vice President. Rex
Hoeben (OR60), Rob Hartman (OR67)
and John Allen (OR81). These men
have been recognised for more than
15 years service to the OIU as General
/ Executive committee members.
Congratulations gents and thank you
for your good work.
I also thank the many parents,
friends, teachers, Fr A V Smith SJ,
Chaplain to the OIU, students and
other Old Boys for their assistance.
Thanks also to the College
Development Office. Peters Herington
and McLean, Janelle Handley, Lauren
Sykes and Suzie Marks have all been a
tower of strength and tireless
workers and supporters
for the OIU.

The Long Lunch was replaced
by The Annual Dinner
called ‘Back to View’. Held
Charles (OR65), Nick (OR91), Jonas (OR96), Sam (OR97) and
in August the dinner was very Dominic (OR2003) Cushieri and Michael (OR68), Sam (OR91),
well attended and paid tribute Ben (OR93), Tim (OR96) and Edward (OR2000) Shepherd pose for
to Honorary Old Boy Mr Les
a photograph with Les Kirkpatrick at the OIU Annual Dinner

Last but not least the
inexhaustible, remarkably
stable and unflappable
(in the face of adversity)
professional and gracious
Christine Zimbulis deserves
a great deal of credit for the
successful year just had.
Thanks.
Tim Gavan, OIU President
Mobile: 0404 043 888
oiupresident@riverview
.nsw.edu.au

IGNATIAN 37

Around the Community

A new Prime
Minister

C

ongratulations are extended to Mr Tony Abbott
(OR75) on his election to the office of Prime Minister
of Australia. The College community extends its best
wishes to Mr Abbott, whose political career has been marked
by dedication and resilience.

The photo above shows Andy Roberts
(OR10) with Prime Minister Tony Abbott
(OR75) together in Uruzgan, Afghanistan.
Andy is indigenous and attended
Riverview from Years 10–12. Now in the
Army, he is part of the 7RAR task group
based in Adelaide but currently serving
in Afghanistan. He met Mr Abbott during
the Prime Minister’s visit to Uruzghan
for a recognition ceremony

Mr Abbott is
Tony Abbott (OR75), at a ceremony in the city, notices students
the first Prime
from Riverview and introduces himself to Ben Juergens, Damien Hayson,
Minister to have
and Charlie Gundy who were on a Year 9 Challenge
been educated
at Riverview (see page 47 for his
current NSW Legislative Assembly.
recollection of being taught by Fr
The first Old Boy to be elected to an
Emmet Costello SJ) but is not the only
Australian Parliament was Bernard
Riverview Old Boy or Jesuit-educated
Henry Corser (OR1897) who was a
Member of Parliament.
dairy farmer from Queensland; an
Dr David Gillespie (OR1975) and
articulate speaker with a popular
Barnaby Joyce (OR1985)—and three
sense of humour and he was a wellother graduates of Australian Jesuit
respected local member. He served for
schools—Joe Hockey (St Aloysius’
an extraordinary 42 years, firstly in
College), Bill Shorten (Xavier College)
the Queensland Parliament from 1912
and Christopher Pyne (Saint Ignatius’
when he joined his father, Edward
College – Adelaide) are all currently
Corser. Edward then went to the
Members of the Australian Parliament.
Federal Parliament as the Member for
Riverview has now produced 21
Wide Bay from 1915 until his death
Parliamentarians in the various
in 1928, whereupon, his son Bernard,
Australian Federal and State
was elected for the same seat, which
Parliaments, including four in the
he then held until 1954.

International
wheelchair basketball
bronze medallist

F

rom Riverview to Turkey!
CJ Grogan (OR2011) was a
member of the U23 Wheelchair
Basketball team that represented
Australia in the International
Wheelchair Basketball
Federation’s U23 Championships.
Held in Adana, Turkey, in
September, CJ and the team won
the bronze medal in a tightly
contested third place playoff
against Great Britain—clinching
the title by a mere two points!

38 IGNATIAN

Where are they now?
Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions 2013

R

Photographs: Art4Agriculture

iverview: producing the next generation of . . . cotton farmers? Two former boarders at Riverview, Ben
Egan (OR2006) and Martin Murray (OR2011) have recently been named as two of Art4Agrciulture’s Young
Farming Champions for 2013 in the category of cotton. Ben, a sixth generation cotton farmer, works on
his family’s farm in Warren, while Martin is working in Moree and studying Rural Science at University of New
England. Passionate about the future of agriculture in Australia, the Young Farming Champion award enables
both Ben and Martin to join a network of young people who share a passion to tell others about the pivotal role
Australian farmers play in feeding the world—an important discussion to be had.

Ben Egan (OR2006)

Martin Murray (OR2011)

Educating hearts

M

any of our readers may remember
Bob Hanley. Bob was a teacher here
at Riverview for 30 years; arriving first in
1972. Since retiring, he has spent the last
six years or so writing a book on education.
Together with his friend, Anthony Maher,
(who was an exchange teacher to Riverview
from Stonyhurst in 1998), Bob has taken
the characteristics of Jesuit education as
a foundation and developed a challenging
approach to education for all schools. During
his 30 years here at the College he developed a
love for the Ignatian philosophy and the Jesuit
way of proceeding in schools.
The book, entitled Educating Hearts: 7
Left to right: Riverview past parent Diedre Thompson, Liberal Member for Hornsby, and
Riverview Old Boy Matthew Kean (OR99); Former Riverview teacher and co-author of
characteristics of a good school is filled with
Educating
Hearts, Bob Hanley; former Councillor on Sydney City Council, former Deputy
real life experiences from his 50 years of
Chancellor at Bond University and representative on the Gonski Review Panel, Kathryn
teaching. It questions contemporary schooling
Greiner AO; co-author of Educating Hearts, Dr Anthony Maher; Nationals Member for
that is becoming dominated by academic
Murrumbidgee and Minister for Education The Hon. Adrian Piccoli; Dr Maher’s son Finan
examinations and ‘test score’ productivity and
emphasises the argument that the world needs more ‘good’ people, not necessarily more ‘clever’ people.
Published by St Pauls Publication, Educating Hearts would be a valuable read for administrators, teachers and parents.

IGNATIAN 39

Around the Community

Loyola Mass
and Lunch

T

Elijah Williams speaking at the Bursary Thankyou Celebration

Bursary Thankyou Function

T

he annual Bursary Donors’ Mass and Celebration was held at the College
in November and was an opportunity for the College to thank all who
had donated to the Riverview Bursary Program in the past year. With the
attendance of more than 200 guests, all present were fortunate to hear personal
accounts from Elijah Williams, Tyrrel Freeman-Mafi and Michael McManus,
who recounted their personal stories as recipients of the Bursary Program.

In the footsteps of Saint Ignatius

P

ictured here are Seth Godlewski, Fraser Perrott and Michael
O’Sullivan, all from the Class of 2012, at La Creu de Sant Miguel,
above the monastery at Montserrat, Spain. The boys made a mini
Ignatian pilgrimage to Montserrat and Manresa, following in the
footsteps of Saint Ignatius.

40 IGNATIAN

he Loyola Mass and Lunch
is a chance for the College to
thank and acknowledge special
friends whose husbands have passed
away. The name of this association
honours the family name of Saint
Ignatius of Loyola. This year
approximately 50 guests attended
Mass in the Dalton Chapel, followed
by a lunch in Memorial Hall, which
was also attended by some Year 10
students. Many thanks to Zac Roddy,
Year 9, who provided some musical
entertainment on the day. Maryan
Bryant, wife of Michael Bryant (dec)
(OR55) and mother of Nicholas
(OR93), Rich (OR91) and Michael
(OR89) made a heart-warming toast
to the College, an extract of which is
published below:
I pray that my sons and my daughters
will always live the example set in
stone for them, so long ago…that
of their father. They are spiritual
beings. I therefore pray they live lives
of integrity, of honesty of justice
and of humour. I hope they remain
forever gentlemen. They give and
not too often count the cost. They
are so truly ‘Men for Others’. Their
success is measured as able husbands
and fathers. It is measured in the
practice of their busy, productive,
active, balanced and generous lives.
Such growth was neither envisaged
nor dreamt about when in 1984, the
first of our sons began his school life
here…I sincerely hope Riverview will
long continue to flourish, moving in
accordance with the demands of these
extraordinary times. May it continue
to beckon and to evolve, to embrace,
to educate and to challenge.

Zac Roddy (Year 9) entertaining
guests at the Loyola Lunch

Community News

Cova Cottage has recently been completely reconstructed with a Function Room and viewing deck on the first floor

Cova Cottage Function Centre available for hire

T

he College has recently completed the re-construction of Cova Cottage. Cova Cottage now houses a sculling
& sailing shed on the ground floor and function room and viewing deck on the first floor. The facility has already
hosted two wedding receptions and many other dinners. The room seats 80 to 100 for a sit down function and up
to 150 for a cocktail function.
The venue has extensive views of the Lane Cove River looking at the city in one direction and towards St Joseph’s College
in the other direction. For a small to medium sized reception, Cova Cottage is an ideal location for you to celebrate your
nuptials or other special occasions. For enquiries and bookings, please contact Mr Mark White, Facilities, Grounds and
Gardens Manager on 0417 204 841 or mawhite@riverview.nsw.edu.au

Past Parents
The Past Parents Annual
Lunch was held at the Four
Seasons hotel in August and
was well attended by over 120
former Riverview parents.
The 2003 parents used the
occasion for their 10 year
reunion and filled over three
tables. Perhaps the 2004
parents can outdo this attendance
next year. We were very fortunate
to have Gail O’Brien as our guest
speaker. Gail’s talk was motivating
and inspiring to all of us.

Dalton at the end of this
year. I would like to thank
the committee for its great
support and enthusiasm
over the past two years
and wish Anne and the
committee every success
in the future.
David and Paula Rowe

Fr Ross Jones SJ introduced our
new principal Dr Paul Hine who
was also addressed the lunch
participants.
This is my last report as President
as I will be handing over to Anne

Diary Date: the Mass and
light luncheon will be held
on Monday 17 Febuary.
This is a great opportunity to revisit
the college and catch up with other
past parents.
Diane Edwards,
President Past Parents Association

IGNATIAN 41

Around the Community
Class of 1953:
60 Year Reunion

A

small group from the Class
of 1953, gathered for Mass and
lunch. Some travelled from as far
afield as the ACT, Dubbo and Wagga
Wagga to spend the day with their
classmates. They spoke of how proud
they were to be back at the College,
some for the first time in many years
and all were keen to hear what’s
happening around the College. Many
have had sons attend Riverview
and many are now grandparents of
boys attending today. After such an
enjoyable day the Class of 1953 is
keen to catch up again in 2014.

Class of 1963:
50 Year Reunion

O

n 27 September about 30 of
us gathered at Riverview for
a pre-luncheon 90 minute walking
tour of the College. Many had not
been back for 20+ years, and a
couple had never been back. Much
reminiscing: and all were impressed
with the refurbished old buildings
and the new facilities.

Then we joined other classmates.
About 60 sat down for lunch to
celebrate our 50th Reunion in the
new Cova Cottage Facility, built

Gregan McMahon proposed a toast to the College at the 60 Year Reunion

on the site of the old Cova Cottage
above the College wharf. It was a
magnificent lunch, and the casual day
with great river views, and sparkling
weather, provided the ingredients for
much catching up and exchanging
of contact addresses.
Keith Hartman took many excellent
photos and posted them to a
Google website, so if anyone would
like the link, email me at jlhayes@
bigpond.com We also had apologies
from about 60 classmates, a very
large number of whom were on
overseas holidays. A few were not
there because of poor health.
We have been able to track down

most of our Classmates where we
previously had no current address;
and now have very few with
‘address unknown’.
We also remembered 10 of our
classmates who have died: Geoff
Davidson, Roger Gerstel, Monte
Gildea, Geoff Hartigan, Richard
Healy John Jones, Bill McKenzie,
Michael Montgomery, Terry Saleh
and John Williams. We ended up
making a surplus on the day, and
so can now make a contribution to
Class Bursaries of about $1,200.
John L Hayes
for the organising Committee

The Class of 1963 posed for a formal photograph on the College foreshore during their 50 Year Reunion

42 IGNATIAN

Reunions
Class of 1973:
40 Year Reunion

T

he Class of 1973 held their
40 Year Reunion on 24 August
2013 at the Royal Sydney Yacht
Squadron at Kirribilli. The reunion
was attended by 64 old boys out of
a graduating class of approximately
100 students. We heard speeches
from Peter Baudish, Myles Coolican
and Jon Greathead. A minutes
silence was held to acknowledge the
passing of men from our class. We
have now lost eight from our year.
We were guests of John Maclurcan
who is a Life Member of the
Squadron and we were grateful to
John for his invitation to hold the
event there. We were provided with
an area of our own and enjoyed
cooking dinner with old friends at
the bistro barbeque. There were

Riverview in Asia

R

ector Fr Ross Jones, Director
of Boarding Mr Guy Masters
and Principal Dr Paul Hine recently
travelled to Hong Kong and
Singapore to see the many alumni
who form part of the extensive Jesuit
community throughout the world.
The purpose of the visit, entitled
‘Riverview in Asia’, was to join the wider
Ignatian family, many of whom are
current and future parents of boys in the
boarding house at the College. 25 of the
boys in boarding have parents who
live in different parts of the world but

Leigh Dobson, Rick Randell, Peter Baudish and James De Siun at the 40 Year Reunion

a number pleasing aspects of the
night. We were delighted to see
that we had five Old Boys attending
who had not previously been to
a reunion. Barry Ryan continued
his outstanding commitment to
our year by travelling from Kenya
for the fourth time in 40 years to
attend. It is always a treat to hear of

Barry’s activities in Africa.
The night was still firing along
at 11.00pm and good group of us
kicked on at the Kirribilli Hotel.
Every reunion we are encouraged
by the enthusiasm of the number
who attend and look forward
to the next one.

there is a concentration of Old Boys and
current parents living in both Singapore
and Hong Kong.There are also a
number of parents who are Australian
citizens who have expressed interest
in attending a boarding forum, with
a clear desire to join the Riverview
community into the future. More
than 50 alumni and parents attended
the gathering in Hong Kong, and the
visit has made it clear that Riverview
commands a significant profile in
South East Asia and that the College is
held in a very high regard as a ‘school
of excellence’—the latter a feature of
Jesuit education throughout the world.

Riverview in the Hunter

O

n 10 November around 75
families attended the third
annual Riverview in the Hunter
Picnic Day at Ram Station, the home
of current parents Andrew and Jo
Melville. Jo and Andrew very kindly
supplied a lamb for the spit, and
many local community members
helped out on the day. People came
from as far as Dubbo and Warren,
with Paul and Ann Hine and Gus and
Anna Masters travelling from Sydney.
Save the Date: Andrew and Jo have
offered to host this event again in
2014 so put Sunday 9 November 2014
in your diaries!

Class of 1954: 50 Year Reunion (Saint Ignatius’ College venue to be announced)

The Development Office can assist with the organisation of your reunion.
For further information, contact Christine Zimbulis, Alumni & Special Events Manager on 02 9882 8595
or cszimbulis@riverview.nsw.edu.au

IGNATIAN 43

Family Celebrations
Baptisms

Weddings

JANUARY
Mila, daughter of Nina and
Christopher Dunn (OR92)

FEBRUARY
Canice Kinnane
(OR2000) and
Edwina Biancardi

Hamish, son of Anne and
Matthew Berry (OR98)

Timothy Corcoran
(OR2003) and
Laura Thomas

FEBRUARY
Eva, daughter of Erin and
Michael Webb (Staff)

MARCH
Sam Fay (OR97) and
Andrea Wang

Ormond, son of Camilla and
Jason Keighery (OR91)
George, son of Brooke and
Michael Palmer (OR96)

Mark Story (OR2002) and Claire Wilkinson

MARCH
Primrose, daughter of
Pollyanna and Henry Burke (OR99)

Harriet, daughter of Rebecca and
Samuel Cuschieri (OR97)

Lachlan, son of Tara and
James Curtin (OR99)

OCTOBER
Edward, son of Emma and
Timothy Knapp (OR2000)

MAY
Pia, daughter of Anna-Jean and
Nicholas Byrne (OR94)
Bianca, daughter of Nicole and James
Wedesweiler (OR94)
Valentina, daughter of Glorija and
Davide Cantali (OR97)
Alexandra, daughter of Patricia and
Matthew Nichols (OR94)
JUNE
Kiera, daughter of Sarah and
Lewis Speers (OR97)
Andrew, son of Natalie and
Andrew Lukas (OR97)
JULY
Henry, son of Cassandra and
Liam Muller (Staff)

NOVEMBER
William, son of Louwana (Staff)
and Joseph Saba
Thomas, son of Danielle and
Damien Wardell (OR94)

OCTOBER
Rhys Tame (OR2003) and
Justine Yates
Daniel James (OR95) and
Jillian McKay

Jessica, daughter of Catherine
and Robert Ward (OR88)

Daniel Cook (OR98) and
Sarah Gaydon

AUGUST
Thomas, son of Hannah and
Edward Flitcroft (OR85)

NOVEMBER
Timothy Barry (OR97)
and Loretta Bressi

Charles, son of Claudia and
Andrew McInerney (OR93)

DECEMBER
Thomas Payten (OR2001)
and Amy Robertson

SEPTEMBER
Nicholas, son of Philipa and
Daniel Concannon (OR91)
Elliott, son of Antonette and
Daniel Johnston (OR94)

44 IGNATIAN

Daniel Johnston (OR94), Elliott, Harry and Antonette

David Buttenshaw
(OR2000) and
Chloe Finley

Parents and Friends

We should be proud of what we’ve achieved

I

t is amazing to think
that it is almost a year
since I took on the role of
President of the P&F. In many
speeches during that time and
articles that I have written I
have spoken of the spirit of
‘community’ being at the core
of what we do in the P&F.
One thing that is very clear to
me having almost completed
my term is that without that
sense of community, of the
banding together of people
with a common cause, I
could not have been able to fulfil my
responsibilities as President. The year
has been a great experience. The P&F
took some different directions this
year, and embarked upon a number of
new fundraising events.
The first of these was the Dad’s Wine
Auction held at the end of May. Whilst
there were times during the planning
for the evening when we wondered if
we would actually make it, the event
ended up being a huge success. We
raised over $81,000 on the evening
with the funds being dedicated to the
school for the purchase of a bus. Special
mentioned should go to the organising
committee ably led by the current year’s
P&F Treasurer, Derek Lindsay, and the
very generous donors to the evening
which included Hugh Bonnefin who
did all the wine logistics and donated
the wine for consumption on
the night, and Mark Rogers and
Greg Mackay who donated all
the beer on the evening.
This event was followed
by another first – a joint
function between the College,
the OIU and the P&F – the
MasterClass Lunch at the
SCG in July. The setting for
the lunch was stunning and
the event was a great success
and raised over $65,000 to
support our co-curriculum
program at the school. Thanks

Year 12 mums in Orange

go to Michael Fahey who gave up a
huge amount of his time to organise
this event, and all the other donors
and contributors.
The Winter Canteens this year were
also a great hit with the revised format
of the GPS Rugby competition giving
us more weekends to open the canteen
at the Father Mac Pavilion. In total
these raised approximately $16,000.
The canteens were able organised and
run by the Year Co-ordinators, led by
Tricia Cobb (a tireless and on-going
supporter of the P&F), and supported
by Simone Robertson and her team
from the College.
The excellent performance at all of
our events means that financially the
P&F is in a strong position at the end
of our financial year. Whilst at the

time of writing this article
we have yet to have the
Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the P&F at which
we will ratify the total funds
to be donated to the College
and the Bursary Program,
our draft proposal is that
a total of $145,000 will be
donated, not including the
approximately $33,000
already raised for the school
through our involvement in
the Co-curriculum lunch.
We will also be leaving the
P&F in a stronger financial position
with an ending cash balance of over
$32,000 ensuring that next year’s
committee has a good start. Included
in the proposed donation is a ‘P&F
Bursary’ – this was a decision made
at last year’s AGM and represents a
six year commitment to the Bursary
Program ($30,000 each year for a
position from Year 7 through to Year
12 inclusive). Providing a named
bursary position provides certainty
to the Bursary program and reflects
strong feedback that the Program is a
worthy recipient of the P&F’s funds.
In summary, we should all be proud of
what the P&F has achieved this year –
and we’ve done this as a community –
that same word I used in the opening
paragraph. Without the contributions
by parents and friends of their time
and effort, even if it is just
helping out for a couple of
hours at the View Café at the
Indian Bazaar, or manning
our tents at the Gold Cup,
every little bit of effort adds
up to one enormous result.

P&F President Matty Lunn (right) hands over cheques to
Fr Ross Jones SJ worth $30,000 for the Bursary Program and to Dr Paul
Hine worth $125,000, for the purchase of a bus for the College

I’d like to thank all of you
who helped out during the
year, and in particular the
Executive Committee who
supported me during my term.
Matty Lunn,
P&F President

IGNATIAN 45

Around the Community

‘The Matador’ from the Jesuits
(The only Australian Professional Bullfighter)

I

t is extremely rare that one finds a man who is brilliant academically and
at the same time brilliant as a sportsperson—such a person is Christopher D.
Meagher (OR52). Chris was runner-up Dux in 1952 and received a maximum
pass in the Leaving certificate (now HSC). From Riverview he proceeded to St John’s
College, Sydney University to study Arts / Law where he always in the top three or four
with Distinctions and High Distinctions. Of course one would expect this achievement
academically as Chris is the brother of Roddy Meagher, distinguished Lawyer/ Judge of
the Supreme Court and who received the University Medal for the Law Faculty. Chris’s
younger brother Phillip was also a Lawyer and no slouch either. Peter, the eldest brother,
was an outstanding businessman in the Riverina area and ran one of the John Meagher &
Sons chain of stores in Temora. It seemed superlative talents ran in the family.
Chris, with all the talents of his siblings, excelled more than the others in sport.
At Riverview he was in the 1sts in football, cricket and athletics for two
years. He was also tennis champion and is one of three of us in the 50s
who attained four colors in four different sports in the one year.
At University he was in the first football team and was University
champion in boxing in three different weights: middle, lightheavy
and heavy. He was an A grade squash and tennis player.
There was nothing he could not excel in that he had not
tried! Yet there was! He was to become the only Australian
professional bullfighter in Spain for seven years in most of the
major bullfighting arenas especially in Pamplona and Seville,
he obtained 30 ears—worthy of any Spanish professional
bullfighter. What an achievement! Most of us are horrified
at the thought of getting into the ring with a savage bull,
bred to kill. Not Chris! If ever there was an aphorism
that lived up to the motto ‘Dare to achieve’ it was this
intrepid man. Even more remarkable, unlike most
matadors, he was not petite. Chris was 6’1” a strong
build and a better target for those raging bulls.
Because of his innate skills and courage he survived
any very serious injury. He plays golf well at 78 years
of age regularly at Royal Sydney Golf Club. Of all
the brilliant men who have gone through Riverview,
Chris rates as one of the most brilliant all-rounders
—and, I have known most of them during the 1940s
to the 70s.
This story has not been told before probably
because of Chris’s genuine modesty and being
somewhat taciturn. He never brags about his
outstanding and unique achievements. I had
to cajole him somewhat to allow me to write
this article for the Ignatian – but it needs to
be told, not just for Old Ignatians of Chris’ era
but for the current students who will be simply
amazed. It is a pleasure and privilege as a friend
to write about such feats.
Terry A Pfafflin (OR54)

Requiescat in Pace
Fr Emmet
Costello SJ

he would continually assert,
was the one permanent value
in our lives. No one else ever
spoke to me about those
things, especially with regard
to money.

F

or years we never really
knew with Emmet; was
he great or was he a bit of
a crack-pot? He spoke of great
things yet, like Don Quixote,
so often appeared as almost a
caricature of greatness. Yet as
the years have passed most,
if not all, remember him as a
significant figure. His gestures,
mannerisms and affectations
seem to strike through years of
memory with great clarity.
Perhaps a reason for this was
that Emmet was a man who spoke
of, and was interested in, the grand
gestures of life. When Emmet got up
to give his homilies he would do so
with the demeanour of a Napoleonic
general. Emmet would deliver his
ideas with emphatic clarity, having
spent hours whittling his ideas down
to a refined yet direct simplicity.
He was labelled by many as a right
wing, conservative, yet spoke with
great contempt of the far right. He
championed liberal moderates such as
Cardinal Martini. When I asked him
recently what he thought of the new
pope, Francis, he replied, ‘Hopefully

Fr Emmet Costello SJ with Pope John Paul II

the Church will finally get the
overhaul it’s been waiting for’.
Perhaps the greatest criticism aimed
at him was that he catered to the rich.
Emmet had come from an immensely
wealthy background and yet, had also
left all that behind to live the life of
poverty. Few of his detractors, as far
as I could see, had made a sacrifice of
that scale.
There is no doubt Emmet loved to
talk about money; however, for me,
as a young man from a privileged
background, his message was always
about the transitory and fickle nature
of money, here one day, gone the
next, not its glory or shine. Christ,

There is also no doubt he
was elitist. Though, what
impressed me was not an
elitism directed towards the
rich and famous but rather
to those who have achieved
feats of greatness. Churchill,
Talleyrand, St Thomas More,
Napoleon . . . were talked
about like old friends, yet their
greatness paled in significance
to what he considered the true
greats in history, the saints.
Ultimately, however, he always led his
conversations to his greatest hero, the
one he constantly encouraged us to
consider as a brother, Christ.
If Emmet sounded a bit crazy,
disconnected to the everyday, or
elitist, it’s because his eyes were
focused on a reality of brilliance.
Emmet believed in humanity and
ardently believed that God had
designed us to achieve great things.
Laughable as this all may seem to be
to most, many of us saw the twinkle
in those eyes and loved him dearly for
it. He shall be greatly missed.
Daniel Dominguez (OR89)

The following is an extract of a piece written by Tony Abbott (OR75) which was published in The Australian.
My first recollection of Emmet was his suggestion, wonderful to a sybaritic boy in Year 10, that going to Mass more
often would be a far more worthy Lenten discipline than giving up chocolate. For me, this quickly developed into a
settled practice of frequent Mass-going. Quite apart from any sacramental grace, particularly in tougher times, this
regular period of calm has been an important element in mental health. These days, alas, the occasional weekday Mass
has become something to offset against frequently missed Sunday Mass – and Emmet’s wise observation has become
corrupted into a kind of self-serving bargain with God.
For Emmet, religion was never a checklist of dos and don’ts. He had taken to heart the gospel message that God’s son had
come on earth so that we ‘might have life and have it to the full’. He invariably had more time for youngsters who kicked
over the traces from abundance of high spirits than for those who were less tempted to break the rules. In the end, he
always seemed to imply, it was better to have a go at things, at the risk of making mistakes, than to dare little for fear of
failure. The greatest sins were the result of hardness of heart: the ‘sins against love’, he called them. It was hardly textbook
Catholicism but highly pastoral and kept many people going to Mass and in touch with their faith. To those assailed by
doubt, he offered the centurion’s prayer: Lord I believe; help my unbelief.
Emmet sometimes joked that celibacy meant that he hadn’t had to break women’s hearts. I suspect that the absence of
children was what he found hardest to bear. On the other hand, not having a family of his own meant that everyone who
needed his help could become his family. Emmet had a spiritual family, if you like, numbering in the tens of thousands.
We are all the poorer for his passing but so much the richer for his living.

IGNATIAN 47

Requiescant in Pace
Philip Patrick Kearins (OR40)

died on 22 July 2013. Husband of Phyllis.

Donal Anthony Nolan (OR40)

died on 17 August 2013. Donal (Don)
Nolan, passed away peacefully at the
RSL Remembrance Village Wagga
Wagga. Formally of The Rock (NSW)
Don is survived by his wife Helen,
children Kerrie, Sally, John and Alex.
Dad’s stories of his time at Riverview
were many and varied and each time
a new person walked into Dad’s life,
they heard those stories, many of
them multiple times! Dad would read
his copy of the Ignatian from cover to
back and would always share a story
or two with Helen or his children. He
was so proud to be a ‘Riverview Old
Boy’. Dad was a wonderful husband,
father, brother and friend to all who
were fortunate to meet him. He was a
gentle man who loved life and always
had a smile on his face. He will be
sadly missed by all.

Brother of Justin (OR53) and uncle
of Paul (OR83). The eldest of three
boys, John was born in Hankow,
China and boarded at Riverview
during World War II, beginning in
1941 and staying until after 1945.
Entering Sydney University after
some time at Stonyhurst, John resided
at St John’s College and completed a
Bachelor of Science. He paid his own
way through university by working
as a Sydney trams conductor and
selling ice-creams and chocolates
in the cinemas. After graduating
university John spent his life working
as a geophysicist with the Bureau of
Mineral Resources, spending much
time on mineral exploration in the

48 IGNATIAN

Australian Outback and in Papua
New Guinea. He loved this life, with
its camaraderie in the quiet of the
Australian bush with its unique birds
and flora. After retiring, John moved
to West Pymble to be closer to family.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
in 1999, he fought the pain and
suffering valiantly. In August 2010,
when he could no longer properly
care for himself, he moved to Killara
Gardens Aged Care, where he was
loved for his quirky sense of humour
and where he was well cared for by
its staff. He was always quite content
with his own company. He loved all
the natural sciences, birds and the
bush. He loved mathematical games,
crosswords and chess, which he
played to a high standard. He loved
travelling and travelled extensively
after he retired. Passionate about
Classical instrumental music, he was
a subscriber to the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra and the Australian
Chamber Orchestra. He was an avid
reader of fiction, science fiction,
history, travel, astronomy and science.
John loved our family, my wife Anne,
our children and grandchildren. He
was highly intelligent, quiet, with a
very enquiring mind and a dry wit. He
never did anything without thinking
through the consequences first. He
was thoughtful, a good neighbour and
a good man, who did no one harm.
Justin Gardener (OR53)

Peter Eric Boon, OAM (OR47)

died on 9 June 2013.

Jacques (Jim) Faure-Brac (OR50)
died on 1 March 2013. Father of Paul
(OR82) and Gerard (OR89).

Richard Messenger (OR53)

Nephew of the great Dally Messenger,
died 13 July 2013 on the Gold Coast,
aged 77 years.
In the 40s and 50s, Riverview was more
a boarding school than a school for day
pupils. So often, not by me, the boarders
would look upon day pupils as secondrate students—they weren’t of course,
and they certainly are not today. One of
the prominent day pupils was Richard

(Dally) Messenger, nephew of famous
Rugby player Dally Messenger.
He was particularly gifted in
maths and could recite the 13th &
14th tables, not just forward but
backwards, at the age of 14 years.
He was that clever he would do his
homework on the bus, after writing
notes on the back of his hand. He
played A grade tennis on Saturdays
and ‘Badge’, along with myself, at
White City Club. He was clearly the
best table tennis player at Riverview
in 1953 and could teach Dave Ragg
and myself a ‘trick or two’. His
brother was the Aust Table Tennis
Champion. However, for some reason
or other, unlike his famous uncle, he
did not play rugby. Richard (Dick)
put his financial skills to good use
on the stockmarket and Financial
Ventures as well as being a successful
punter. He could tell you off the top
of his head what the odds ought to
be at Randwick. He was popular at
Riverview and in tennis circles and
was a real character, often listening
to the races on the portable while
playing tennis. Vale.
Terry A Pfafflin OR54

Michael ‘Mick’ Clifford (OR 54)

died on 2 October 2013 aged 76 years.
It is easy to write nice things about a
nice person—that is not to say that I
do not feel a great deal of melancholy
never the less. Michael Clifford was
an outstanding man, and with an
outstanding character—I don’t think
he had a mean fibre in his body.
I recall very vividly a ‘swim off’ we
had for third place in the swimming
team in 1954 (Lionel Bannister and
Johnny Coombs were clearly the best
swimmers and were numbers 1 and 2
in the team—there were only three in
the team in those days). He beat me in
the ‘swim off’ and said ‘Pfaff I’m sorry
I beat you’! How many people would
say that and genuinely mean it? But
this was the pre-eminent quality of
his character, his genuineness.
He did not have an alter ego
(protective blanket)—what you saw
was what you got.

Requiescant in Pace
Mick was generous, outgoing and
gregarious and a very likable man,
with a little bit of villainous about
him. He was a good all-rounder
not only in sport but academically.
He played in most first teams,
rugby and cricket, and was in the
swimming team. Mick seemed to be
always smiling and never had a bad
word to say about anyone. He was
popular with everyone and a shining
example of a Jesuit-educated boy. His
nickname was ‘Milky’, aptly named
because of his white ‘milky’ hair (not
grey!) Michael will be sorely missed
by many of his friends from Riverview
and the Pharmaceutical field. There
were three generations of Cliffords
who owned the Tumut Pharmacy—a
highly respected and liked family.
He leaves behind his loving and
dedicated wife Anne, children Sam, Fi
and Lu, a brother and sister and many
grandchildren. RIP my dear friend.
Terry A Pfafflin OR54

Anthony Christopher Coombes
(OR54) died on 10 June 2013 in
Toronto, Ontario.

Lloyd Patrick Ryan (OR56) died

on 31 August 2013. Husband of Sally
and father of Justin (OR87).
Lloyd commenced at Riverview as
a boarder from Wagga Wagga in
1956. In his starting year he was a
standout breakaway in our Third
Division Black colour team and was
instrumental in taking us through
the Colour competition undefeated.
He also played in the 13A team that
year and was a member of A teams
until his ability saw him play for the
1st XV. Lloyd’s tenacity, in spite of his
comparatively small stature, saw him
attain a high level of achievement
in rugby, rowing and athletics and
earned the highest respect from his
fellow competitors and opponents. In
military terms, you would like to have
him with you ‘in the trenches’.
He was quick-witted, gracious,
thoughtful, mindful of others. He
never shirked his responsibility and

was a whole-hearted and constructive
contributor. In later years, Lloyd’s
presence on the OIU golf tours
organised by Tony Clark was looked
forward to and appreciated, his
comments in discussions around the
dinner table inevitably added life to
the evening’s procedures. Though
his mobility was often restricted,
he participated on the golf course
wholeheartedly and fairly.
Lloyd spent virtually all of his life
after school in and around Wagga
Wagga, where he was well respected
by not just his beloved Wagga
Waratahs team-mates, but by the
community. He was a very successful
grazier, stock breeder, trader and
dealer and his opinions in those areas
were highly sought after.
Lloyd’s funeral at Saint Michael’s
Cathedral in Wagga Wagga on 5
September 2013 was well attended by
quite a diverse selection of people, all
paying tribute to a man who will be
sadly missed but fondly remembered.
Many of Lloyd’s former class and
schoolmates from Riverview attended
to pay him the respect he so highly
deserved. He is survived by his
devoted and caring wife Sally, his
daughters Victoria, Georgina and
Emma-Kate and by his son Justin
(OR87) and their families.
Paul Sheridan (OR56)

James (Darcy) Hall (OR59)

died on 1 November 2013. Much
loved husband of Lindy; loving
father and father-in-law of Matthew
(OR85) and Melinda, Samantha and
Les, Chris (OR96) and Katie; loving
grandfather of Jackson, Aubrie,
Danica and Heidi; brother of Felicity,
Mary, Robert and Michael.

John Joseph (OR69), died on 12

August aged 62. Husband of Annie.
Father of Andrew (OR2000), David
(OR2002), Tom (OR2004) and Lucy.
Bother of Vincent (OR67) and Glen
(OR72). He was related to the many
Josephs who were at Riverview from
the 1940s.

Richard (Rick) Randell (OR73)

died on 26 November 2013 in
Brisbane. After leaving school, Rick
studied accountancy part time whilst
working at Colgate’s in Balmain.
Soon after marrying in 1982 at Saint
Ignatius’ College, Riverview he and
Donna moved to Brisbane where
they raised their four boys Damien,
Matthew, Thomas and Cameron,
who all attended St Joseph’s College
(Gregory Terrace) with distinction.

Rick continued working as an
accountant in Brisbane, the last 16
years being at Rivermount College
where he become Bursar. Rick
attended many Riverview reunions
held in Brisbane, and the Class
reunions in Sydney including his 40th
in August just gone which he enjoyed
immensely in spite of his illness.
Rick is universally remembered by
his classmates as having a great sense
of humour, being a true gentleman, a
gentle and good man, and are proud
to be counted as his friends.
Richard’s two sisters are Barbara
Mulcahy (son Nick OR2011) and
Virginia Greiner (son Simon OR98)
who also have a long association with
Riverview.

Daniel Kevin Batty (OR88)

died on 17 June 2012. Husband
of Kerry and father of Alexia and
Mitchell. Daniel went to University
in Launceston Tasmania to study
Air Sciences, and went on to become
an Air Traffic Controller. After
graduating he came home and spent
some months at Sydney Airport, and
was then transferred to Melbourne
Airport, where he met his wife, and
lived until his death in 2012.

Stephen Michael Haine (OR93)
died on 5 January 2013. Son of Cleo
and Michael, brother of Marnie and
Ashley (OR91).

Oliver James Fox (OR2006) died
on 18 October 2013. Son of Liz and
Noel (OR74); brother of Sebastian
(OR2008).

The College extends its sympathy to all members of the Riverview family who have lost loved ones. While every care is
taken with the accuracy of these obituaries we cannot accept responsibility for errors in material provided in good faith.

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
To the greater glory of God

T

he Magis Window is about aspiration, where seeking is a noble intent. It calls upon one to do
more, always extending oneseld for the greater glory of God. It is an expression of aspiration and
inspiration, to go beyond and accordingly the metaphorical symbol employed here is that of an
opening flower, aspiring towards the light. The words ‘To the greater glory of God’ in relatively bold text
are cast into the glass surface in both Latin and English.
‘Magis’
Magis is Latin for ‘more’, and asks individuals to question: what more can
I do for God? What more can I do for others? Saint Ignatius of Loyola used
the word to urge others to live more generously and in doing so give greater
glory to God. In this way, the term is related to but not taken from, the Latin
phrase Ad majorem Dei gloriam which means ‘For the greater glory of God’.
Magis is best understood as a lifestyle rather than an act or series of acts
which demonstrate a person’s commitment to the ‘more’. Magis is an
Ignatian term, and for Ignatius it is a relationship word, meaning that it
applies in personal relationships, both with God and with others, in terms
of love. It is through this love that the proper meaning to ‘more’ is found,
love given freely, in generosity, and always in reverence to God. Through
discernment of spirits, as described in Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, one
must order his or her desires so that they are in line with what God desires –
both in what is desired and in the way that is desired. With an emphasis on
aligning our desires with God’s, pursuit of magis can be for the greater glory
of God rather than being driven by pride or selfishness. Aristotle’s virtue of
the mean can be applied to Ignatius’ view of magis in which virtuous action is
Artist’s preliminary drawing
always an intermediate state between extremes. To embody magis, an individual
for the ‘Magis’ Window’
stained glass window in the
should not seek to be God nor be driven by the desire for more like we see
Dalton Memorial Chapel
in consumer society ‘have to do more, want to be more’, pride and upward
mobility, but should try to love in the image of God and conform to the will of
God in the way that it is possible for each individual. Magis is concerned that what we choose in our everyday
lives will contribute to our life of love and service to God and others. In this sense magis is a ‘continuous quality
improvement . . . suggesting the spirit of generous excellence in which ministry should be carried on’.
Origin in the Spiritual Exercises
The concept of magis is derived from the First Principle and Foundation from Spiritual Exercises of Saint
Ignatius of Loyola. This principle states ‘The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve God Our
Lord, and by so doing to save his or her soul . . . We should desire and choose only what helps us more towards
the end for which we are created.’ Though magis is never specifically mentioned in the Spiritual Exercises, it
is seen through Saint Ignatius’ diction when using words such as more or greater. Throughout the rest of his
Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius encourages people to examine ‘What have I done for God? What am I doing
for God? and What MORE can I do for God?’